Overview
- Nationwide observances marked Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s 148th birth anniversary, including a change-of-guard and wreath-laying at Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore led by Rear Admiral Sohail Ahmad Azmi.
- President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged a renewed commitment to Iqbal’s ideals, with the prime minister highlighting education that builds intellect and character and referencing youth initiatives such as Uraan Pakistan.
- Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi announced a planned Islamabad–Iran–Istanbul train service targeted for December 31, 2025, alongside other proposed regional links, with these projects presented as intentions pending implementation.
- Cultural and educational institutions held tributes and performances nationwide, including the Punjab Colleges Literary Society event and a Jashn-e-Iqbal programme at Alhamra featuring Pakistani and Iranian artists.
- The Turkish embassy in Islamabad hosted a commemoration and photo exhibition, as provincial and party leaders including Maryam Nawaz, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Murad Ali Shah invoked Iqbal’s khudi to emphasize youth empowerment, unity and moral renewal.