The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Islamabad hosted an event titled Muhammad Iqbal: The Great Poet of the East to mark the birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal, bringing together diplomats, cultural organisations and Pakistani scholars to honour the poet’s enduring influence.
Before the commemorative meeting, the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre inaugurated a photo exhibition called Common Heroes. The exhibition was opened by H.E. Dr. Irfan Neziroğlu, Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan, alongside Khursid Ahmad Nadeem, Chairman of the Rahmatul-lil-Alamin Authority, Zulfiqar Cheema, Chairman of the Iqbal Council, and Prof. Dr. Halil Toker, Türkiye Coordinator of Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centres in Pakistan.
Following the exhibition, a meeting took place at the Embassy where Ambassador Dr. Irfan Neziroğlu emphasised the deep-rooted friendship between Türkiye and Pakistan and reflected on Allama Iqbal as a thinker and poet whose ideas continue to inspire the Muslim world and guide intellectual exchange between the two countries.
Khursid Ahmad Nadeem highlighted Allama Iqbal’s profound affection for Türkiye and noted Iqbal’s intellectual engagement with the concept of ijtihad and the early republican reforms that shaped modern Türkiye. His remarks underlined the historical connections that link Pakistani scholarly thought with Turkish reformist ideas.
Zulfiqar Cheema paid tribute to Allama Iqbal’s efforts towards the spiritual revival of the Muslim Ummah, noting how Iqbal’s poetry and philosophy remain relevant in contemporary discussions about faith, identity, and social cohesion across South Asia and beyond.
The event served as a reflection of enduring cultural and intellectual ties between Türkiye and Pakistan, reinforced by institutions such as the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre, the Rahmatul-lil-Alamin Authority and the Iqbal Council. The Embassy’s programme offered Islamabad’s academic and cultural community an opportunity to engage with Allama Iqbal’s legacy and to reaffirm shared history, values and vision between the two nations.
