The 133rd birth anniversary of Poet of the East, Doctor Allama Muhammad Iqbal would be observed today (Tuesday) with traditional zeal and fervour. The day has been declared as a public holiday through out the country Special programmers would be arranged in this regard. On the day, the speakers would pay homage to Allama Iqbal and Newspapers would publish special editions and TV channels would telecast special program relating to the life and achievements of Allama Iqbal.

National flag will be hoisted on all principal government buildings. Their will be special exhibition of books and relics at Iqbal Museum Lahore, National Museum Karachi and Iqbal Manzil Sialkot. Cinema Houses will make special arrangements to screen documentary films on Iqbal’s life. The academy of Lahore will arrange a book exhibition on this day. The traditional ceremony of change of guards will also take place on the mazaar.

In his message 133rd birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal being observed on Tuesday PM said, “Given the unique nature of challenges facing the humanity in general and the Muslim Umma in particular, the relevance of Dr Iqbal’s message and thought has increased manifold.   To Allama Iqbal, we owe not only a poetry that stirs our soul and a philosophy that serves as a clarion call for a dynamic life, but also a national home that he visualized for us and gave it a conceptual form. Allama Iqbal awakened in us the desire to seek our identity and our entity as Muslims and urged the Muslims of the sub-continent to turn to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to lead them in their struggle for freedom”.   PM said we are celebrating the birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal at a critical juncture of our national history. The Poet of the East was the harbinger of hope. He taught the lesson of not submitting before the challenges and urged the Muslims to find creative solutions to their problems by depending upon their inherent strengths. Allama Iqbal’s life-long mission was to create in the Muslims an impelling awareness of the need for synergizing efforts and energies for the overall welfare of humanity. The thought of Iqbal was instrumental in marshalling the multitudes of Muslims into a well-knit nation. In his call he has stressed that the pre-requisites for Islamic renaissance are self-gnosis and discipline, which he defines as unquestioning obedience to the will of ALLAH and action, which he interprets as steadfast endeavour to follow the injunctions of the Holy Qur’an and the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The scourges of terrorism and extremism that afflict our body politic can be eliminated by preaching Allama Iqbal’s message and forging unity in our ranks.   “The policies in Pakistan have been set in the direction of Allama Iqbal’s vision The government of Pakistan is committed to mould our political, social and economic systems in accordance with the vision of Allama Iqbal”, PM said.

He said Iqbal’s thought can help us fix and achieve our national goals through awakening our collective ego. Allama Iqbal believed in the dignity and brotherhood of man as a basis to establish peace and global order. Indeed, the best tribute we can pay to his memory is to ensure that we do not allow any vested interest to deflect us from this course.