Iqbal Conference in Islamabad Stresses Culture, Khudi and Youth Empowerment

Islamabad: Speakers at the inaugural session of the Two-Day International National Iqbal Conference 2026 underlined that Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s intellectual legacy remains central to Pakistan’s national and cultural identity, calling for renewed academic engagement with his philosophy to guide the younger generation.

The conference has been organised by the National Language Promotion Department (NLPD) in collaboration with Women University Mardan at Aiwan-e-Urdu, National Language Promotion Department, Islamabad. The gathering was attended by prominent academic, literary, research and diplomatic figures.

Addressing the opening session, Mr Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said effective steps should continue to be taken to convey Iqbal’s message to young people through academic and literary activities. He said sustainable development and economic prosperity could be achieved only by providing equal opportunities to youth and women.

“The development of a country cannot be viewed separately from its culture,” he observed.

Mr Khichi said the conference would not remain limited to the presentation of research papers. He announced that its recommendations would be translated into practical initiatives with the support of the Higher Education Commission.

The proceedings began with the national anthem, recitation from the Holy Quran and Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool ﷺ. A brief introduction to Women University Mardan was also presented.

In her welcome address, Vice Chancellor Women University Mardan Prof Dr Razia Sultana thanked the guests and said Allama Iqbal had great expectations from the younger generation. She said Iqbal consistently taught the lesson of Khudi, or selfhood, and envisioned a separate homeland for Muslims, with Pakistan being the realisation of that dream.

“Iqbal’s poetry and philosophy remind Muslims of their greatness,” she said, adding that his lectures introduced readers to the true spirit of Islam.

Prof Dr Razia Sultana said that, like Omar Khayyam, who was both a poet and mathematician, and Ibn Khaldun, who was a philosopher, Allama Iqbal was not only a poet but also a thinker, philosopher, economist and legal scholar. She said his poetry inspires self-confidence, self-awareness and a sense of purpose among young people, while his philosophy encourages them to stay connected with their cultural identity and move forward in knowledge and research.

Explaining the aims of the conference, Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Director General of the National Language Promotion Department, said the main objective was to highlight Iqbal’s thought and philosophy in an international academic context and create new avenues for research and intellectual dialogue.

He said Iqbal’s message was not limited to a particular era, but continued to promote intellectual independence and human awakening in national life. He described the message of Iqbal as an important source of intellectual guidance for the youth.

Prof Dr Mazhar also pointed out that Allama Iqbal’s first book was Ilm-ul-Iqtisad, The Science of Economics, which contains valuable economic principles. He said economics was essential to human life and that economic well-being was also necessary for mental peace and stability.

Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan, spoke about the shared literary and cultural heritage of Pakistan and Iran. He said Iqbal’s Persian poetry played an important role in strengthening academic, literary and cultural ties between the two countries.

He said the presence of distinguished academic and diplomatic personalities at the conference reflected their deep interest in Allama Iqbal. He noted that although Iqbal is widely known as a poet, he was also a thinker, philosopher and political visionary who made remarkable predictions about the future.

The Iranian ambassador described Pakistan as a source of pride for being the birthplace of Iqbal and said Iqbal belonged to the world of thought and intellectualism. He said Iqbal enjoyed immense popularity in Iran as he did in Pakistan. Calling Iqbal a sun-like personality, he said Iqbal was not merely an individual but an entire school of thought. He added that although Iqbal never visited Iran, he understood the country and its culture deeply, which Iranians considered a matter of pride and esteem.

Keynote speaker Barrister Waleed Iqbal, legal expert, educationist, former senator and grandson of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, spoke on Iqbal’s philosophy and its relevance to present-day challenges. He said Iqbal’s philosophy of Khudi teaches individuals to recognise their potential and act with purpose, while his intellectual vision provides a foundation for national sovereignty and collective progress.

Barrister Waleed Iqbal said promotion of Iqbal studies and intellectual research at universities could help develop creativity, critical thinking and academic self-confidence among students. He said Iqbal regarded the nation as the body and the poet as the eye of the nation. He also noted that Iqbal began his professional career as a lecturer immediately after completing his education before joining the legal profession.

He said themes of human welfare, social justice and economic equity were already reflected in Iqbal’s poetry in 1907, when he was studying at Cambridge. He mentioned that two books had been published on Iqbal’s legal career and that Iqbal had handled 111 cases during his lifetime. Concluding his remarks, he recommended the reintroduction of Allama Iqbal’s famous poem Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua in school curricula.

Justice Dr Syed Muhammad Anwar, Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court, Islamabad, spoke on Iqbal’s concept of justice, Islamic thought and social responsibilities. He said that, according to Iqbal, justice, moral values and collective consciousness were basic requirements for the development of a strong society.

Dr Abdul Rauf Rafiqui, Director of Iqbal Academy Pakistan, Lahore, discussed Iqbal studies and the preservation of Iqbal’s intellectual legacy. He said making authentic texts, ideas and literary works of Iqbal accessible to the younger generation was an important academic and national responsibility.

Brigadier (R) Dr Waheed-uz-Zaman Tariq, Iqbal scholar, Persian poet and literary figure, recalled his participation in the centenary celebrations of Iqbal and expressed pleasure at being part of the 150th-anniversary celebrations. He highlighted the consequences of economic inequality, saying societies could not sustain themselves amid severe economic disparities and that such inequalities could lead to the downfall of rulers and political systems.

He said Iqbal used Persian as an effective medium to express his philosophy of Khudi and human dignity, adding that his poetry continued to serve as a source of intellectual enlightenment.

Prof Dr Rafiq-ul-Islam, Chairman, Department of Iqbal Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, said various literary journals and magazines had published special issues on Iqbal, which had become a lasting part of literary history. He said the pioneering efforts undertaken during the present Iqbal commemorations would always be remembered in future celebrations.

He added that Iqbal envisioned a modern Islamic university and strongly supported girls’ education. He suggested the inclusion of courses in curricula to provide children with practical household management skills. He also recommended optional courses for girls focusing on domestic psychology and first aid training.

Dr Humair Shahbaz, Department of Persian and Director, Department of Translation and Interpretation, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, highlighted the intellectual and cultural dimensions of Iqbal’s Persian poetry. He said Iqbal’s Persian works contained deep concepts of human dignity, selfhood and spiritual development, which could serve as a bridge for dialogue between Eastern and Western intellectual traditions.

Mr Faisal Ghori, Country Director, Askari Bank, spoke on Iqbal’s philosophy of ambition and achievement. Referring to Iqbal’s vision, he said a goal may initially appear as distant as the sky, but once achieved, it becomes as attainable as the ground beneath one’s feet. He particularly stressed the importance of women’s education and recommended that no girl should be deprived of this fundamental right.

During different sessions, Ms Kiran Qamar from Women University Mardan and Mr Tariq Bin Azad from the National Language Promotion Department performed duties as stage moderators. The second part of the session featured a Vice Chancellors’ session with participation from eight universities. Mr Nabeel, who travelled specially from Lahore, also presented Iqbal’s poetry along with its translations.

Speakers said the Two-Day International National Iqbal Conference 2026 represented an important academic initiative to align Allama Iqbal’s philosophy with contemporary challenges and to promote intellectual independence, national consciousness and research among the younger generation.