ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad Capital territory Administration (ICTA) here on Saturday declared April as Month of Iqbal (Maah-e-Iqbal) to pay tribute the great philosopher poet, in the capital territory. This was decided at a meeting chaired by the Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Tariq Mahmood Pirzada, with a view to pay homage to Shair-e-Mashriq, Allama Muhammad Iqbal. The officials of Capital Development Authority (CDA), Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA), Federal Directorate of Education, Roots School System Adminstration, PTV and Ministry of CADD attended the meeting.It was decided that all public and private educational institutions would actively participate in making the Mah-e-Iqbal celebrations successful and institutions would be decorated with the themes of the great poet. Federal Directorate of Education will hold various activities including speeches, debates, creative writings, and bait bazi competitions in the educational institutions. Roots School System administration will develop a logo to uniformly depict the theme and activities of Maah-e- Iqbal across the city. Whole of the city will be given a festive look by the CDA, through the use of banners, posters and buntings representing Iqbal’s thoughts and poetry.
CDA will also build a memorial in the memory and honour of great poet, at a prominent place in the city where the foreign dignitaries would get a chance to lay wreath on the memorial in future. Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) will arrange painting as well as posters competitions amongst the students depicting couplets from Iqbal’s poetry and an exhibition of such paintings would be held at the PNCA. Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad will also arrange seminar and workshops whereby academicians and researchers would come up with a roadmap and strategy for making younger generation aware of Iqbal’s ideas and poetry. A comprehensive programme would be held in the Convention Centre on April 21, on the occasion of death anniversary of great poet and selected presentations would be made by the students including holding of book fair and posters, painting and photo exhibition. Work of Sadequain and other artists would also be displayed by the PNCA.