132nd Allama Iqbal Day

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan celebrates the 132nd birth anniversary of the great Poet-philosopher Allama Iqbal in a befitting manner today, Monday.

Different social, cultural, educational and literary organisations have planned a number of programmes and activities to mark the day and pay tributes to the great visionary of the 20th century who envisioned a separate homeland for Muslims of British India, which led to the creation of Pakistan.

The government has declared the day as Holiday and all the government offices and educational institutions shall remain closed. National flag shall remain hoisted atop all important public buildings with mounting of ceremonial guards at Mazar-e-Iqbal followed by laying of floral wreaths by people from all segments of society.

The daylong programmes shall start with special prayers for the solidarity, unity and prosperity of the country and for the early liberation of occupied Kashmir in mosques.

Fateha and Quran Khawani shall also be held at mosques and the Mazar-i-Iqbal which shall be visited by people to pay their homage to the Poet of the East.

Dignitaries shall also place floral wreaths and pray at the Iqbal mausoleum, in Lahore where politicians and the public shall pay homage. Special events will be arranged to highlight the life and services to the nation by the great poet and the electronic media broadcasted special programmes.

In birth city of Allama Iqbal, Sialkot special function will be held at Iqbal Manzil (the birth place of Allama Iqbal) to commemorate the occasion. Iqbal Manzil is a blessed place where Allama parents lived unaware of the arrival of an infant who would not only enlighten the Muslim world but also the universe with his verse and works in Urdu and Persian of a unique style.
 
Likewise, a special and dignified ceremony will be held at Mazar-e-Iqbal, situated at the door-steps of the historic Badshahi Masjid in Lahore where change of guard will also take place.

People in large number will visit the eternal abode of the Poet of the East to pay homage to the great poet and philosopher, who envisioned a separate homeland for Muslims of India which led to creation of Pakistan. Markazia Majlis-e-Iqbal plans to organize the Iqbal day function in Lahore.