Pakistan marks 146th birthday anniversary of national poet Iqbal

Source: Xinhua| 2023-11-09 23:34:30|Editor: huaxia

Pakistani servicemen attend a remembrance ceremony marking the 146th birthday anniversary of national poet Muhammad Iqbal at the mausoleum of Muhammad Iqbal in Lahore, Pakistan on Nov. 9, 2023. Pakistan on Thursday celebrated the 146th birthday anniversary of its national poet, Muhammad Iqbal, with national fervor. (Photo by Sajjad/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Thursday celebrated the 146th birthday anniversary of its national poet, Muhammad Iqbal, with national fervor.

The philosopher-poet was born in the Pakistani district of Sialkot on Nov. 9, 1877 and died on April 21, 1938. He is known for his influential efforts through his poetry in the creation of Pakistan on Aug. 14, 1947.

To mark the Iqbal Day on Thursday, a public holiday in Pakistan, a guard change ceremony was held at his mausoleum in the eastern city of Lahore. A contingent of the Pakistan Navy took over guard duties at the mausoleum, which is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year.

TV channels and radio stations presented special programs in connection with the Iqbal Day by highlighting his poetry and thoughts.

On the occasion, Pakistani President Arif Alvi praised Iqbal's role in uniting Muslims through his writings and emphasized the importance of following his teachings to build a prosperous and empowered nation.

The country's caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar paid tribute to Iqbal and urged the country's youths to embrace his ideas and teachings to build a peaceful, tolerant, and fraternal society. ■