ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani have reaffirmed the importance of incorporating poet-philosopher Allama Mohammad Iqbal’s ideas into national life and public conduct in order to build a welfare, just and balanced society.

In their messages on the 88th death anniversary of Allama Iqbal, they stressed the need to learn from the teachings of the great visionary who gave intellectual direction to the idea of Pakistan.

“At the heart of his message was a clear concern for fairness in economic and social life. He questioned systems in which those who labour are denied their due share and emphasised that the dignity of work must be matched by equity in outcome for the workers. His emphasis on fairness in economic and social life continues to hold relevance for shaping a just, humane and stable order,” they said.

President Zardari paid tribute to Iqbal, saying he was not only a great poet, but an intellectual, moral and spiritual force who guided the Muslim Ummah towards self-awareness, freedom of thought, self-respect and determined effort. At a time of decline and uncertainty, he rekindled the confidence of a people and restored their belief in action and possibility.

Iqbal’s thought reflects a deep engagement with both Eastern and Western traditions, he said. Iqbal drew upon this wide intellectual inheritance to present a forward-looking vision of society rooted in justice, dignity and human potential. His work also speaks to the rise of Asia and the reawakening of societies that had long remained under external dominance, offering a perspective that continues to resonate in the present century.

Mr Zardari said the modern world continued to face serious challenges marked by conflict and division. In such circumstances, the thought of Allama Iqbal remains a living source of guidance. Iqbal called for love over hatred, justice over coercion and hope over despair. In his view, lasting peace depends not only on political arrangements, but on the reform of the individual and the strengthening of moral character, he said.

“An important aspect of Iqbal’s thought is its relevance to all sections of society. For youth, he called for ambition and disciplined effort. For women, he emphasised a dignified and active role in society. For students, he linked knowledge with character and purpose. For ordinary citizens, he stressed honesty and self-reliance. At the centre of his message is the development of Khudi, a strong sense of self that enables individuals to act with confidence and responsibility,” the president said.

Allama Iqbal viewed education as a means of intellectual and moral formation, not only a path to livelihood. His emphasis on character, responsibility and purposeful learning remains directly relevant to how we shape our educational and social systems. Knowledge must build character, awareness must bring responsibility and skills must serve the society. This approach is essential for building a stable, self-reliant and forward-looking Pakistan, the president added.

The Senate chairman called for a collective resolve to incorporate the teachings of Iqbal into both individual and collective spheres of life in order to lay the foundation of a strong and stable Pakistan.

“In the present era, it has become imperative to understand and implement Iqbal’s philosophy to help build a rock-solid, thriving Pakistan,” he said. He said that national unity, cohesion, and progress demand renewed adherence to Iqbal’s thoughts.

Mr Gilani also paid tribute to the Poet of the East and thinker of Pakistan. Allama Iqbal was an extraordinary intellectual leader for the Muslims of the subcontinent, who through his poetry and philosophy articulated the vision of an independent homeland and infused a renewed spirit among the people.

He remarked that Allama Iqbal’s vision of Pakistan was rooted in the ideals of a welfare-oriented and just society, where every individual enjoys equal rights and the rule of law prevails.

The Senate chairman added that parliament, along with all state institutions, bears the responsibility to discharge their duties in light of Iqbal’s guiding principles.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2026