Iqbal’s birth anniversary today: Zardari calls for an egalitarian Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for building a Pakistan where poverty does not undermine human dignity, every child enjoys equal opportunities and the nation stands confidently among the comity of nations, urging the youth to translate Allama Iqbal’s philosophy into practical action for national progress.

In his message on the 149th birth anniversary of national poet Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, being observed on November 9, the president paid tribute to the poet-philosopher for awakening the Muslims of the Subcontinent to their dignity, rights and ability to shape their own destiny.

President Zardari said Iqbal provided intellectual direction to the aspirations of the Muslims of the Subcontinent, while his poetry also conveyed a universal message of freedom, equality and a life based on self-respect.

Highlighting Iqbal’s vision of an egalitarian society, the president said the poet challenged exploitation, advocated the awakening of the underprivileged and upheld the dignity of labour. Iqbal envisioned a society where wealth, privilege and inherited status would not determine an individual’s worth or opportunities.

He said this vision required Pakistan to ensure fair wages for workers, just returns for farmers and equal educational and development opportunities for every child, irrespective of family background, gender or faith.

The president described Khudi (selfhood) as the cornerstone of Iqbal’s philosophy, saying it represented the development of a confident, purposeful and responsible individual through knowledge, hard work, courage and strong character.

He observed that awareness of one’s own dignity must go hand in hand with respect for the dignity of others. The same principle, he said, applied to nations, as national self-respect required independent decision-making, the development of domestic strengths and engagement with the international community on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

“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,” the president said.

Referring to Iqbal’s message of Asian awakening, President Zardari said the poet had urged the peoples of Asia to overcome subjugation, regain confidence and take charge of their own future.

He said Iqbal’s message had acquired renewed significance as the world looked towards the dawn of an Asian century, adding that its promise must extend beyond economic growth to include freedom from hunger, access to education and opportunities, and respect for national sovereignty.

Pakistan, he said, must contribute to this vision through education, scientific advancement, regional cooperation and peace.

The president also recalled the contributions of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in championing the rights of ordinary people and those deprived of influence and opportunities.

He said their political legacy reflected the importance of ensuring broader participation in national life, adding that this democratic tradition could be honoured by strengthening institutions, protecting equal citizenship and ensuring that the benefits of development reached all segments of society.

On the occasion, President Zardari urged young people to draw inspiration from Iqbal’s poetry to promote a spirit of inquiry, strengthen critical thinking and develop their intellectual capabilities.

He called upon the nation to translate Khudi into confidence grounded in knowledge, national self-respect into hard work for transforming Pakistan into a developed and strong country, and the ideal of equality into justice in everyday life.

The president said translating Iqbal’s ideals into practical realities was the way to pay lasting tribute to the national poet and fulfil the promise of Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026