On the occasion of the birth anniversary of the Poet of the East, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, in his message, said that the Government of Pakistan is taking comprehensive and practical steps to promote Iqbal’s thought both nationally and internationally. He stated that the solution to today’s global challenges lies in Iqbal’s philosophy, which advocates humanity, selfhood, freedom of thought, and universal brotherhood.
The Minister announced that the government has established a “150-Year Committee” to organize grand celebrations in connection with Allama Iqbal’s 150th birth anniversary. The committee includes government officials, Iqbal scholars, educationists, and researchers. He said that Iqbal Academy Pakistan is playing a central role in this initiative by supporting the establishment of Iqbal research centers across all provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. In the first phase, the Iqbal Research and Cultural Complex has already been launched in Sialkot as a hub for research, training, and intellectual exchange.
Aurangzeb Khan Khichi further mentioned that Iqbal Academy Pakistan is implementing a project to translate Allama Iqbal’s works into major international languages. As part of this effort, the Portuguese translations of Iqbal’s books will be introduced on November 13 at the Pakistan Academy of Letters, in an event attended by the ambassadors of Brazil and Portugal.
He emphasized that preserving and transmitting Pakistan’s cultural heritage including Iqbal’s philosophical legacy to future generations is a top priority of the Ministry of Culture. The minister added that through Iqbal Academy and other institutions, the government is working to publish and disseminate Iqbal’s ideas in Urdu so that the new generation can connect with his message of khudi (selfhood) and nation-building.
The minister said the government is also incorporating Iqbal’s philosophy into the national education system and policy framework to enable young people to draw inspiration from his teachings on faith, action, and perseverance. “Through art, literature, and cultural activities, we will inspire youth in the light of Iqbal’s message of selfhood, freedom, and confidence,” he added.
Aurangzeb Khan Khichi also stated that the ministry aims to revive historical sites, monuments, and cultural centers to keep alive Iqbal’s revolutionary spirit and message of national unity.
He further announced that Pakistan will highlight Iqbal’s philosophy globally through academic conferences, exhibitions, and dialogues in collaboration with universities, research institutions, and scholars around the world, aiming to bridge intellectual gaps between the East and the West and promote Pakistan’s scholarly and cultural identity.
Concluding his message, the minister said that Iqbal’s philosophy of khudi teaches us to build a dignified and enlightened Pakistan through faith, hard work, and self-confidence. “As a nation, we must embody Iqbal’s vision in our individual and collective lives, for he guided the youth toward knowledge, character, and action,” he remarked.
“Iqbal’s thought rekindled the spirit of freedom, infused the Muslim Ummah with self-confidence and dynamism, and awakened the Muslims of the subcontinent with a message of selfhood and independence,” the minister concluded.
