The 139th birth anniversary of Poet, Philosopher and thinker Allama Muhammad Iqbal is being marked with traditional zeal and fervour today. 

The day will dawn with special prayers for the peace, national integrity, prosperity and development of the country. Later, a change of guard ceremony will be held the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal.

People hailing from different walks of life including educationists would pay visit to the mausoleum of Iqbal to pay respect to him.

Various literary, political and cultural organisations have planned programmes to pay respect to the great philosopher. Newspapers would bring out special supplements highlighting life and teachings of Iqbal while radio and TV channels would present special programmes.

Born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877, Allama Muhammad Iqbal is recognised as national poet, and also known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan and Hakeemul Ummat and is credited with sparking the pan-Islamic thought among Muslims of the subcontinent.

He is also considered one of the most important figures in literature with literary works in both Urdu and Persian languages. Asrar-e-Khudi, Payam-i-Mashriq, Bang-i-Dara, Bal-i-Jibril, Zarb-i-Kalim and Armughan-e-Hijaz were amongst his best works.

Allama Iqbal is widely credited for conceiving the idea of Pakistan and is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the country. Other than thought provoking work, his works comprise romantic and humorous poems in both Urdu and Persian languages.

Educationists emphasised the need to understand the vision of Poet of the East Allama Iqbal for the progress of the country. "Nation should get united to get rid of challenges being faced by the country."

They also called upon the authorities concerned to widely spread the ideology of Iqbal at schools, colleges and universities as Pakistan had come into being because of his thoughts and dream.

Iqbal's work gave the nation a lesson of unity as he was a torchbearer of unity for Muslims, they said, adding "Iqbal's philosophy was a beacon of light for the youth and guaranteed Muslim renaissance."

-Business Recorder