149th birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal being celebrated with fervour

The 149th birth anniversary of poet-philosopher Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal is being celebrated all over the country today (Monday) with national fervour and enthusiasm.

Popularly known as the Poet of the East, Allama Iqbal was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877.

He inspired the Muslims of the Subcontinent through his philosophical poetry and played a key role in shaping the intellectual foundations of their struggle for a separate homeland.

His historic Allahabad Address in 1930 provided political direction to the Muslims of the Subcontinent and strengthened their demand for a distinct political identity and homeland.

To mark the occasion, the government has declared November 9 a nationwide public holiday.

All public and private offices, along with educational institutions, will remain closed.

Meanwhile, radio and TV channels will broadcast special programmes highlighting Iqbal’s poetry, philosophy, intellectual contributions and enduring message to the nation as part of the nationwide Iqbal Day celebrations.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari urged young people to draw inspiration from Iqbal’s poetry and use it as a catalyst to boost the spirit of inquiry and develop critical faculties.

In a message on the occasion of the 149th Iqbal Day (November 9, 2026), he said, “On the 149th birth anniversary of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, I pay tribute to our national poet, whose words awakened people to their dignity, their rights and their power to shape their own destiny. Iqbal gave intellectual direction to the aspirations of the Muslims of the Subcontinent. His poetry also spoke to a wider human struggle: the pursuit of freedom, equality and a life of self-respect.”

The president said, “Iqbal envisioned a society in which wealth, privilege and inherited status would no longer determine a person’s worth or opportunities. His poetry challenged exploitation, called for the awakening of the poor and upheld the dignity of labour.

“He placed ordinary people at the centre of humanity’s future. His vision of an egalitarian society calls upon us to build a Pakistan where the worker receives a fair wage, the farmer enjoys the fruits of his labour, and every child can learn and advance, regardless of family circumstances, gender or faith,” the president added.