Aurangzeb Khichi visits Mazar-e-Iqbal with high-level delegation to mark Allama Iqbal’s 149th birth anniversary

ISLAMABAD, Nov 09 (APP): Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division and President of Iqbal Academy Pakistan, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, along with a high-level delegation, visited Mazar-e-Iqbal on Sunday to mark the 149th birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

The federal minister laid a floral wreath at the mausoleum, offered Fateha and paid tribute to the great poet and philosopher of the East. He also recorded his remarks in the visitors’ book at the mausoleum.

The delegation included Vice President Iqbal Academy Pakistan Dr Shahzad Qaiser (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), Director Iqbal Academy Pakistan Dr. Abdul Rauf Rafiqi (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), Chairman Aiwan-e-Iqbal Salman Ghani and Administrator Aiwan-e-Iqbal Anjum Waheed.

Speaking on the occasion, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said that 2027 would be observed as the year of Iqbal activities, featuring a series of academic, literary, research and cultural events at national and international levels to promote the philosophy and teachings of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

He said Iqbal Academy Pakistan would play a pivotal role in promoting activities marking the 149th birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal.

The academy would undertake further initiatives, including national and international conferences, seminars, competitions based on Iqbal’s thought, translation projects and research and publication programmes to convey Iqbal’s universal message to the younger generation and international academic circles.

The minister said that the intellectual legacy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal was an integral part of Pakistan’s national identity, adding that promoting his teachings in line with contemporary needs was a collective responsibility.

Earlier, during the night between November 08 and 09, Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi and Federal Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for the 149th birth anniversary celebrations of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, participated in a special ceremony at Hazoori Bagh, Lahore.

The two ministers jointly cut a cake to mark the 149th birth anniversary of the poet of the East and paid tribute to his outstanding intellectual, literary and national contributions.
The ceremony was attended by prominent personalities from academic, literary, research and educational circles.