ISLAMABAD The nation on Sunday celebrated the 131st birth anniversary of Dr. Allama Mohammmad Iqbal and paid tribute to the great national poet and philosopher.

Social, cultural, educational and literary organizations held different programmes and activities to mark the day in a befitting manner.

Besides print media that published special edition on Allama Iqbal, electronic media also broadcast different programmes to highlight the work of the poet.

In Sialkot, a home-town of Allama Iqbal the city Nazim Muhammad Akmal Cheema and District Coordination Officer (DCO) Capt. Rtd Ata Muhammad visited Iqbal Manzil to pay homage to great poet-philosopher who envisoned a separate homeland for Muslims of the Sub-continent, motivated them towards seeking self-identity and presented a dynamic concept of life to them.

Later in the day, a big procession headed by tehsil nazim, Sialkot Tehsil Municipal administration Imtiaz-ud-Dar was taken out from Iqbal Manzil (the birth place of Iqbal).

The procession concluded at the graves of parents of Allama Iqbal and Fateha was offered by the participants.

President Asif Ali Zardari in a message in connection with the day urged the need for imbibing the teachings of national poet Allama Iqbal and making a forward movement in its philosophical thought to steer the nation out of present crisis.

He said one of the most impressive aspects of Allama Iqbals ideas is the stress he lays on the forward movement in human thought.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said `Today, more than ever before, there is a need for us and the people of the west to learn from the teachings of Iqbal who advocated the foundation of a new world by wedding intellect with love`.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Babar Awan said `his thoughts are not only for Muslims but also for the entire humanity as Allama Iqbal gave the message of love and peace.`

Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza said the poetry and thoughts of Allama Iqbal awoke Muslims from their deep slumber and injected spirit of independence and freedom in the Muslim Ummah.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born on November 9, 1877 in Sialkot and died April 21, 1938. He was a Muslim Poet, Philosopher and Politician.

His poetry in Urdu, Arabic and Persian is considered to be among the greatest of the modern era and whose vision of an independent state for the Muslims of British India was to inspire the creation of Pakistan.

His writings, poetry and sayings kindled a new light and aroused a sense of respect, self-realization and determination in the muslims. He has awakened the muslims of sub-continent and convinced them to demand a separate homeland where they can live with dignity and exercise their social, religious and cultural rights.

Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilisations across the world, but specifically in India; a series of famous lectures he delivered to this effect were published as The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam.

Being one of the most prominent leaders of the All India Muslim League, Iqbal encouraged the creation of a `state in northwestern India for Indian Muslims` in his 1930 presidential address.

Iqbal encouraged and worked closely with Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and he is known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan `The Thinker of Pakistan`, Shair-e-Mashriq `The Poet of the East`, and Hakeem-ul-Ummat `The Sage of Ummah`. He is officially recognised as the `National Poet` in Pakistan.