ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari urged young people to use inspiration from Iqbal’s poetry as a catalyst to boost the spirit of inquiry and develop critical faculties.
In a message on the occasion of 149th Iqbal Day (9 November 2026), he said, “On 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.”
“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,” he added.
He said, “At the heart of this vision lies Khudi: the development of a confident, purposeful and responsible self. It grows through knowledge, effort, courage and strength of character. A person conscious of his or her own dignity must also respect the dignity of others. The same principle applies to nations. National self-respect demands the capacity to make independent decisions, develop our own strengths and engage with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect.”
“For me, fidelity to Iqbal’s vision means building a Pakistan where no citizen’s dignity is diminished by poverty, no child’s future is limited by birth, and our nation stands among others with confidence and self-respect,” he remarked.
He said, “Iqbal’s poetry also carried a powerful message of Asia’s awakening. He urged its peoples to overcome subjugation, recover their confidence and become makers of their own future. As we look towards the dawn of an Asian century, his message acquires renewed significance. The promise of that century must reach beyond economic growth to embrace freedom from hunger, access to knowledge and opportunity, and respect for the sovereignty of nations. Pakistan must help realise this promise through education, scientific progress, regional cooperation and peace.”
The President said, “The struggle for the empowerment of ordinary people has continued through our political history. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto gave voice to those denied influence and opportunity, affirming their right to participate in national life. We honour that democratic tradition by strengthening institutions, protecting equal citizenship and ensuring that development improves the lives of the many.”
“On this Iqbal Day, let us translate Khudi into confidence rooted in knowledge, national self-respect into hard work to transform Pakistan into a developed and strong nation, and the ideal of equality into justice in everyday life. This is how we can honour Iqbal and fulfil the promise of Pakistan,” he concluded. –Agencies
