K-P, Balochistan pay tribute to Iqbal

Like other parts of the country, the birth anniversary of great national poet, philosopher and visionary Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal was celebrated on Thursday in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Special programs and functions were held in schools, colleges and universities to mark the day and highlight contributions of Allama Iqbal for the liberation of Muslims living in the subcontinent.

Programs were also aired to inform youngsters about the vision and philosophy of Dr Allama Iqbal who through his poetry gathered Muslims under a single platform leading to the creation of a separate homeland for Muslims.

All public and private sector schools and colleges across KP were directed to arrange special programs in connection with the Iqbal Day.

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Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhary underlined the need to seek guidance from Allama Iqbal’s thoughts, saying that it is our collective responsibility to play a role in building the nation and the country following the vision of the great visionary.

The chief secretary said that the dreamer of Pakistan, through his poetry, ignited in Muslims the hope of an independent state. His poetry highlighted the unique identity of Muslims and provided guidance to them in every walk of life, he added.

He further said that Iqbal was a great philosopher, intellectual, poet and a great leader of the Muslims of the subcontinent whose poetry, ideology, and philosophy are a beacon of light for the Muslim Ummah, especially our young generation.

The chief secretary paid rich tribute to the national poet and reiterated his commitment that Pakistan would be transformed into a great Islamic welfare state as per the vision of our forefathers.

Balochistan Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki on Thursday also paid tribute to the Poet of the East.

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He said that today, the whole nation paid tribute to the services of the great thinker. A separate homeland was achieved for the Muslims of the subcontinent through the democratic struggle in the form of the realisation of the dream of Dr Allama Iqbal, he added.

Domki said that Iqbal breathed a new spirit of independence among the Muslims of the subcontinent by presenting the concept of Pakistan.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ziarat Muhammad Ramzan Palal on Thursday said that Iqbal was a prominent figure in the creation of Pakistan.

In his message on the birth anniversary of the Poet of the East, he said that Iqbal presented a complete map of a separate homeland of Muslims in his speeches at Allahabad. He inculcated the feeling of separate nationality to free the Muslims of the subcontinent from the chains of slavery and awakened the Muslims with his poetry. His thoughts lighted the lamp of hope which indicated not only the destination but also the route, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2023.