SIALKOT-Muneeb Iqbal (the grandson of Allama Iqbal), inaugurated the celebrations of "Iqbal Week" by cutting Allama Iqbal's birthday cake during a special ceremony held at University of Gujrat (UoG) Sialkot Campus here on Monday.
He paid homage to his grandfather Dr Allama Iqbal.
He also opened the exhibition of old and rare pictures of Allama Iqbal, his family and the members of the Pakistan Movement at the UoG Sialkot Campus.
A large number of students showed keen interest in this exhibition.
Earlier, addressing the participants of a seminar on Iqbaliyat at UoG Sialkot Campus here today, Muneeb Iqbal stressed the need for making all-out sincere individual and collective efforts at all levels for bringing "purity" and further betterment in the prevailing democratic system, norms and values for transforming Pakistan into a welfare state as envisaged by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal. He said that the true democracy is vital for national development and prosperity, asking the youth to follow the philosophy of Allama Iqbal to serve the nation and the country in a better way.
He narrated the Allah Almighty has blessed Pakistan with all natural resources, and now it a collective responsibility to utilise it judiciously and sagaciously for bringing about national development.
"Because of the numerous sacrifices of the forefathers, today we are enjoying the fruit of freedom," he pointed out, adding that best tribute to the founders is to follow in their footprints and devotedly serving the country.
On the occasion, he renewed the commitment to make Pakistan strong, progressive and prosperous.
CEO UoG Sialkot Campus Rehan Younas paid rich tribute to Allama Iqbal, saying the day of Nov 9 marks the realization of the dream, the poet-philosopher of the East had envisioned for the Muslims of South Asia.
He informed that during the Iqbal week celebrations, contests of the Kalam-e-Iqbal, speeches on Iqbaliyat and tableaus would be held at UoG Sialkot Campus.
Kaleem Raza (Director Students Affairs UoG Sialkot Campus) said that Allama Iqbal's message reminds us of the gigantic challenges the people of South Asia had so willingly and wilfully taken up 77 years ago.
The experts of Iqbaliyat Prof Ejaz Butt, Syed Riaz Hussain Naqvi (caretaker of Iqbal Manzil Sialkot), Prof Islam Butt, Miss Roma Shehzadi (Head of the Mass Communication Department), Rana Babar Suhail, Kaleem Raza, CEO of UoG Sialkot Campus Rehan Younas and Dr. Zahur Sheikh Muneeb Iqbal also spoke on the occasion.
Muneeb Iqbal also distributed the books "Kuliyaat-i-Iqbal" among the brilliant students for their outstanding curriculum and extra curriculum performance.
Earlier, Muneeb Iqbal spent the night (between Sunday and Monday) at Iqbal Manzil (the birthplace of Allama Iqbal) in Sialkot. He took keen interest in all the rare personal used things of his grandfather Allama Iqbal and pictures of his family displayed there.
While, addressing the participants of a ceremony held at Iqbal Manzil under the auspices of Bazm-e-Iqbal Sialkot, Muneeb Iqbal paid homage to Allama Iqbal, saying that Allama Muhammad Iqbal was a visionary who conceived the idea of separate homeland for the Muslims of the Subcontinent that was ultimately materialized in the shape of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
He stressed that the teachings of Allama Iqbal are like a beacon of light to maintain tolerance, peace and stability in the society. He added that youth of the nation should transform themselves into Iqbal's 'Mard-e-Momin' and strive for self-reliance within own resources and emphasized austerity envisioned by Allama Iqbal.
Syed Riaz Hussain Naqvi (Incharge/Caretaker of Iqbal Manzil Sialkot), Shamim Khan Lodhi (President Bazm-e-Iqbal Sialkot), Abid Hussain Mehdi (Acting Chairman of Sialkot Press Club) and others also spoke and highlighted the various aspects of Allama Iqbal's poetry, philosophy and vision.