GUJRAT: The 146th birth anniversary of poet-philosopher Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal was celebrated at Iqbal Manzil, the birth place of the national poet, in Sialkot city on Thursday.

The students of different schools and colleges, their parents and locals attended the ceremony with traditional zeal and zest.

None of the heads of the district administration and police was present in the ceremony which is traditionally participated by these officers.

However, the administration was represented by administrator Sialkot Municipal Corporation Muhammad Iqbal, who is also the additional deputy commissioner revenue (ADCR), Sialkot.

A cake was also cut by the participants in the event who later paid rich tribute to the poet as well as offered prayers for Allama Iqbal and his parents.

Later on, the administrator and others also went to the graves of the parents of the national poet in Imam Sahib graveyard of the city where they laid the floral wreaths and offered Fateha for the departed souls.

An official of the local administration said it was the 109th death anniversary of Imam Bibi, the mother of Allama Iqbal, on the 146th birthday of the poet.

Earlier, addressing the participants, the MC administrator eulogised the ideology of Allama Iqbal whose poetry, he said, had guided Muslims of the sub-continent in firmly facing the challenges at that time.

He said the poetry of Iqbal was based on the holy Quran and “reminded us of our great past to instil confidence among us to change the circumstances on our own.”

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2023