LAHORE: (Saturday, November 09, 2024): Federal Minister for Planning Development Prof Ahsan Iqbal has said that Iqbal’s ideology is the atomic bomb of development for Pakistan and Pakistan can become a developed nation if we follow Allama Iqbal’s teachings. He said that until the Muslims remained connected with knowledge, they progressed in every field and ruled for centuries. “Today, due to our distance from knowledge, the tragedy is that the moon is being conquered by the US, Russia, China and India and the power of Israel is greater than the might of 52 Islamic countries,” he added. He was addressing a seminar on ‘Journey to National Development in the Light of Iqbal’s Thoughts’ to celebrate Iqbal’s Day at Al Raazi hall organized by Punjab University Institute of Urdu Language and Literature and Directorate of Students Affairs. On this occasion, PU VC Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, UVAS VC Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mehmood, Dr Jameel from HEC Pakistan, Dean Faculty of Oriental Learning Dr Muhammad Kamran, Director Iqbal Academy Lahore Dr Abdul Rauf Rafeeqi, Director Urdu Development and Translation Centre Prof Dr Baseera Ambreen, Prof Dr Zia-ul-Hassan, faculty members, staff and a large number of students were present.

In his address, Prof Ahsan Iqbal said that Israel has committed brutality in Gaza, Lebanon and other neighboring countries, but the two billion Muslims worldwide seem to be unable to stop this evil elephant. He said that today America is a super power because of the lights in the laboratories and libraries remain on all the time while in our universities the library and laboratories are closed after five o'clock according to the official time. He said that the nation should be connected with knowledge and should be brought out of the business of stones. He hoped that our youth would celebrate the centenary of independence in 2047 in a Pakistan built in the light of the ideas of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said that a holiday in the name of Iqbal Day is not good; instead, if it is a working day, programs can be organized based on his thoughts and ideas. He said that Iqbal’s teachings and thoughts require his services should be honored by raising them to the maximum. He said that in the current century, the ideological unity of the countries has no importance. He said that G20 is based on economic interest. He said that the politics of anarchy and hatred benefits the enemy and harms the country. He said that our ideologies may differ but we are all equal Pakistanis. PU VC Prof Dr Muhammad Ali said that today is the day of renewal of our pledge. He said that nations that do not acknowledge and remember the services of their heroes are destroyed. He said that Allama Iqbal was a philosopher, politician, educationist, great poet and Sufi. He said that Allama Iqbal gave the concept of a separate Muslim state. He said that there are a large number of Muslims in India, but they do not have the rights that they can have in a free state. He said that we all have to make the country Allama Iqbal's Pakistan together. Prof Dr Muhammad Younis thanked PU VC Dr Muhammad Ali and his team for organizing the seminar on the topic. He said that Allama Iqbal has spoken for every class in his poetry. He said that Allama Iqbal's poetry is an interpretation of the Quran. He said that Allama Iqbal is the name of a movement. On this occasion, Dr Muhammad Kamran, Dr Abdul Rauf Rafiqi, Prof Dr Baseera Ambreen and Prof Dr Zia-ul-Hassan also shed light on various aspects of Allama Iqbal's life.