President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid rich tributes to Allama Muhammad Iqbal on his 148th birth anniversary, describing the Poet of the East as a visionary whose thoughts continue to inspire the nation and the Muslim world.
In his message, President Zardari said Allama Iqbal awakened Muslims of the subcontinent to the idea of freedom, and his message remains a guiding force even today. He noted that Iqbal’s historic Allahabad Address of 1930 laid the foundation for the Muslims’ demand for a separate homeland.
The President said Iqbal emphasised Muslim identity, spirituality and independence, and his ideology shaped Pakistan’s national identity. He reaffirmed the nation’s resolve to remain committed to Iqbal’s principles. “To make Pakistan prosperous, peaceful and united, we must all play our role,” he said, adding that Iqbal’s intellectual legacy would continue to guide future generations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message, said the nation pays homage to the poet-philosopher whose teachings illuminated hope during an era of oppression. He said Iqbal taught a disheartened nation the philosophy of selfhood, reminding them that nations are built on faith, knowledge and action.
The Prime Minister noted that Iqbal’s thought continues to provide direction amid national and global challenges. He highlighted that Iqbal saw the youth as builders of the nation’s future and urged them to shape their own destiny. “Iqbal dreamed of young people soaring high and creating new worlds with their vision,” he said.
Shehbaz Sharif added that several government initiatives, including the “Uraan Pakistan” programmes, were inspired by Iqbal’s concept of empowering the youth. He said Iqbal envisioned unity in the Muslim Ummah and lasting global peace.
