Pakistan commemorated the 148th birthday of Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervor across the nation on November 9, 2025. The annual national holiday saw various ceremonies, educational events, and cultural activities organized to pay tribute to the philosopher poet who conceived the idea of a separate homeland for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent.
Nationwide Celebrations and Official Ceremonies
Government institutions, educational establishments, and private organizations throughout Pakistan held special programs to mark Iqbal Day 2025. The main ceremony took place at Iqbal's mausoleum in Lahore, where officials, politicians, and citizens gathered to offer fateha and lay floral wreaths. The changing of the guard ceremony featured a contingent of Pakistan Navy personnel taking over duties at the revered site.
In educational institutions across the country, students participated in special assemblies, speech competitions, and poetry recitations focusing on Iqbal's philosophical works and revolutionary ideas. Many schools organized exhibitions displaying Iqbal's poetry, while universities conducted academic seminars discussing his vision for the Muslim Ummah and his concept of Khudi (selfhood).
Tributes from National Leadership
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led the nation in paying homage to Allama Iqbal through separate messages. Both leaders emphasized how Iqbal's philosophy continues to guide Pakistan through contemporary challenges. They highlighted the importance of embracing Iqbal's message of self-realization, unity, and perseverance among the youth.
The President noted that Iqbal's vision remains profoundly relevant in today's global context, urging citizens to draw inspiration from his teachings to overcome modern-day obstacles. The Prime Minister called for renewed commitment to Iqbal's dream of a progressive, Islamic welfare state where justice and equality prevail.
Cultural Events and Public Engagement
Various cultural organizations arranged musical performances, drama presentations, and artistic exhibitions centered on Iqbal's life and work. Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television Corporation broadcast special programs featuring discussions on Iqbal's philosophy, recitations of his poetry, and documentaries about his contributions to the Pakistan Movement.
In major cities including Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta, literary societies organized symposiums where scholars, poets, and intellectuals deliberated on different aspects of Iqbal's thought. Many participants emphasized how Iqbal's message transcends time and offers solutions to contemporary social, political, and spiritual challenges facing the Muslim world.
The day concluded with a renewed national commitment to embody Iqbal's ideals of knowledge, action, and faith. Citizens across social media platforms shared quotes from Iqbal's poetry, while television channels aired special transmissions featuring analyses of his work by prominent scholars and historians.
