Overview
- President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued messages on November 9 calling for a renewed commitment to Allama Iqbal’s principles to guide national progress.
- Shehbaz Sharif emphasized aligning education with Iqbal’s thought and said the government has launched youth programmes, including Uraan Pakistan, to expand modern skills and employment.
- Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi announced new connectivity plans, with an Islamabad–Iran–Istanbul service scheduled to begin on December 31, 2025, alongside proposed routes linking Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and Chaman, and a Chaghi–Nokkundi–Karachi track project.
- A ceremonial change of guard at Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore led nationwide observances, with Pakistan Navy taking over duties to honor the national poet’s 148th birth anniversary.
- Provincial leaders and civic groups highlighted Iqbal’s themes of khudi and youth empowerment, while the Turkish embassy in Islamabad hosted a cultural tribute underscoring bilateral ties.