Overview
- President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued tributes urging a renewed commitment to Iqbal’s principles, with the premier emphasizing education that builds intellect and character.
- Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi announced a Dec. 31, 2025 launch for the Islamabad–Iran–Istanbul service and flagged plans for links from Kazakhstan through Afghanistan to Chaman plus the Chaghi–Nokkundi–Karachi track project.
- The Turkish embassy in Islamabad hosted a commemorative event and opened a “Common Heroes” photo exhibition, highlighting long-standing Pakistan–Turkey cultural ties.
- Ceremonies across the country included a change of guard at Iqbal’s mausoleum in Lahore and campus programs featuring recitations, performances and a special drama on selfhood and character.
- Opinion pieces used the occasion to call for institutional reform and technology-led growth, with the planning minister outlining the URAAN Pakistan paradigm focused on AI, STEM skills, research universities and digital governance.