President, PM call for adhering to Iqbal’s teachings

Country marks 146th birth anniversary of Poet of the East

LAHORE:

Pakistan on Thursday marked the 146th birth anniversary of the celebrated poet, philosopher, and thinker Allama Muhammad Iqbal. The country announced a public holiday, and held various events to commemorate Iqbal’s achievements.

Allama Iqbal, a prominent figure of Pakistan Movement as well as in the fields of poetry, philosophy, law and politics is remembered for his influential poetry that continues to resonate with many till today.

In their messages President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar urged the nation to follow Dr Iqbal’s philosophy of khudi — (self-esteem).

In his message to the nation, the president said adherence to Allama Iqbal’s philosophy of Khudi was direly needed to overcome the challenges faced by the Muslim Ummah as well as Pakistan.

The president said the Iqbal Day was a reminder to be aware of his message and adopt it at the individual and national levels.

Paying tribute to the noted poet and philosopher for his services, President Alvi called for reaffirming the commitment to follow Iqbal’s message and making his ideas and thoughts a guiding principle to make Pakistan a modern Islamic welfare state.

Mentioning the global recognition of Allama Iqbal’s intellectual and political services, he said Allama Iqbal’s poetry had a unique distinction in Urdu language which gave political awareness to the Muslims of the subcontinent.

Moreover, the great poet also awakened the nation and persuaded it to decide its own destiny, he added.

The president said that by addressing the youth in his poetry, Iqbal taught them to revive the spirit of self-esteem as he desired the Muslims of the subcontinent, especially the youth, to adopt the philosophy of self-reliance to change their destiny.

Besides being a great supporter of the acquisition of modern education, Allama Iqbal also taught the youth to adhere to the Holy Quran.

He said Iqbal’s philosophy gave a message that bravery, modesty, wisdom, great character and morals, self-respect, foresight and self-confidence were the highest human qualities to revitalize not the individuals but the nation.

The president said Allama Iqbal’s philosophy was universal and revolutionary which gave a message of hope, unity and solidarity to Muslims, besides identifying the major challenges being faced by the nation.

In his message on Iqbal Day — being observed to commemorate the poet’s 146th birthday — state-run Radio Pakistan quoted the premier as saying that Iqbal “awakened the consciousness of the Muslims of the subcontinent about their basic rights which created a spirit of unity among the Muslims”.

He added that the leader’s “philosophy of khudi is a unique transformation for humanity to achieve success in this world and hereafter”. He emphasised that Iqbal visioned Pakistan as a country of “peace, political tolerance and brotherhood”.

The prime minister urged the youth to play a key role in the service and development of the country with positive and progressive thinking as envisaged by Iqbal, Radio Pakistan stated.