LAHORE: The 143rd birth anniversary of poet and philosopher Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal was celebrated across the country on Monday with national zeal and enthusiasm.

Special prayers were offered in mosques for development and prosperity of the country.

People paid glowing tributes to Allama Iqbal who conceived the idea of Pakistan to get a separate homeland in Muslim majority areas of the sub-continent. The people hailing from different walks of life including educationists, politicians and students visited his Mazar.

Born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877, Dr Allama Iqbal had foreseen that only solution of the problems being faced by the Muslims in the sub-continent was a separate homeland.

An impressive change of guards' ceremony was held at Mausoleum of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal. A smartly turned-out contingent of Pakistan Navy clad in whites assumed ceremonial guard duties.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Rangers ceremoniously moved out of the Mazar lead by their officer-in-charge. Both the outgoing and incoming guards of Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Rangers were inspected by Station Commander (Navy) Lahore, Commodore Muhammad Neimatullah.

The ceremonial guard mounting was followed by floral wreath laying at the Mazar of National Poet by Station Commander (Navy) on behalf of Chief of the Naval Staff, officers, sailors and civilians of Pakistan Navy.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar went to the shrine of the poet and laid floral wreath and prayed for the development and progress of the country and nation.

The CM paid rich tribute to great philosopher Allama Iqbal and said through his poetry he gave the message of peace and brotherhood. Pakistan can be succeeded by following the thoughts and philosophy of Allama Iqbal.

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar also visited the Mazar of Allama Iqbal to pay respect to national poet.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020