LAHORE (Dunya News) - The 147th birth anniversary of national poet Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal was observed on Saturday all over the country with traditional zeal and enthusiasm.
The federal government had announced November 9 as a public holiday, in connection with the birth anniversary of the country’s national poet and philosopher.
In honour of the occasion, a dignified ceremony for the change of guards was held at the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal. The special guest for the event was Commander of the Pakistan Navy Central Punjab Rear Admiral Azhar Mahmood.
Rear Admiral Azhar Mahmood laid flowers at Iqbal's mausoleum and offered prayers.
He also inspected the guard of honor, which included contingents from the Pakistan Rangers and the Pakistan Navy.
After the change of guards, a floral tribute was placed at the national poet's mausoleum by Admiral Naveed Ashraf, officers, sailors, and civilian staff of the Pakistan Navy.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar also paid his respects at the tomb of Allama Iqbal on the occasion of the poet's 147th birth anniversary.
He stated that hate and division had been intentionally fostered in society, leading to polarisation among people.
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In his remarks, Tarar also reiterated the importance of following Iqbal’s philosophy. He noted that Iqbal's poetry remained a unifying force for the Muslim Ummah, and that his ideas inspired the spirit of freedom among Muslims in the subcontinent.
Moreover, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Allama Iqbal’s poetry was a call towards action and self-realisation.
Sharing his message on Allama Iqbal’s 147th birth anniversary, the prime minister stated that Iqbal was a great philosopher, insightful poet and prominent thinker.
Iqbal’s thoughts and writings marked the great impact not only of the subcontinent but across the world, he added.
PM said that Iqbal's philosophy ignited the dream of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent, leading to the creation of Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz Sharif stressed that Iqbal was a source of inspiration for us to strive for progress and prosperity as a nation.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He is also recognised as national poet, and known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan (thinker of Pakistan), Shair-e-Mashriq (poet of the east) and Hakeemul Ummat (doctor of the Muslim Ummah) and is credited with sparking the pan-Islamic thought among Muslims of the subcontinent.
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Allama Iqbal envisioned the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent‚ which led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
He is also considered one of the most important figures in literature with literary works in both Urdu and Persian languages. Asrar-e-Khudi, Payam-i-Mashriq, Bang-i-Dara, Bal-i-Jibril, Zarb-i Kalim and Armughan-e-Hijaz were amongst his best works.
Iqbal was a Sufi poet for the modern age who aroused a revolutionary spirit in the nation through his poetry. His poetry has been translated in Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, English and several other languages and is considered a great philosopher all over the world.
Unfortunately, he could not see the independence of Pakistan and died on April 21, 1938.