NA panel approves cultural heritage bills

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture has unanimously approved two key pieces of legislation while directing authorities to accelerate preparations for commemorating Allama Iqbal's upcoming 150th birthday through multimedia projects and youth engagement initiatives.

In its fifth meeting held Tuesday at Parliament House, the panel greenlit The Iqbal Academy (Amendment) Act, 2025, and The National Fund for Culture Heritage (Amendment) Act, 2025, marking significant legislative progress for cultural preservation efforts.

The committee, chaired by Nosheen Iftikhar, directed the Iqbal Academy Pakistan to expand its ongoing documentation project by reaching out to the third generation of Allama Iqbal's descendants to gather additional material for a commemorative book ahead of the poet-philosopher's 150th birth anniversary.

The academy has already recorded interviews with Iqbal's son and daughter, which are currently being compiled for publication.

In a push to engage younger audiences, the committee recommended that the Academy produce and televise a documentary or film about Iqbal's life and works.