President Highlights Iqbal’s Role in National Life for Just Society

President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed the importance of bringing Iqbal’s ideas into national life and public conduct, stating that true value lies in their application for building a just and balanced society. On Iqbal Day (21 April 2026), he emphasized that Allama Muhammad Iqbal was not only a great poet but also an intellectual, moral, and spiritual force who guided the Muslim Ummah towards self-awareness, freedom of thought, self-respect, and determined effort.

Iqbal’s thought reflects engagement with both Eastern and Western traditions. He presented a forward-looking vision of society rooted in justice, dignity, and human potential, offering perspectives that continue to resonate today. His emphasis on fairness in economic and social life remains relevant for shaping a just, humane, and stable order.

In the modern world facing conflict and division, Iqbal’s thought serves as guidance. He called for love over hatred, justice over coercion, and hope over despair. Lasting peace depends not only on political arrangements but also on individual reform and moral character strengthening.

Iqbal’s message is relevant to all societal sections. For youth, he advocated ambition and disciplined effort; for women, a dignified and active role in society; for students, linking knowledge with purpose; and for ordinary citizens, honesty and self-reliance. At the core of his thought was the development of Khudi, fostering confidence and responsibility.

Education, according to Iqbal, is not just a path to livelihood but also an avenue for intellectual and moral formation. His emphasis on character, responsibility, and purposeful learning remains crucial in shaping educational and social systems. Knowledge must build character, awareness must bring responsibility, and skills must serve society, essential elements for building a stable, self-reliant, and forward-looking Pakistan.

Iqbal’s stature transcends Pakistan, recognized in Iran where his poetry is deeply respected due to the central role of Persian literary tradition. His thought speaks across cultures and societies, as evidenced by Iqbal’s own words: “A new world comes into being through new ways of thinking; worlds are not created from stone and brick alone.”