Ahsan Iqbal calls for promoting Iqbal's philosophy among youth

LAHORE, Nov 09 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Monday stressed the need to familiarise the younger generation with the philosophy and teachings of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, saying his intellectual legacy was vital to Pakistan's national identity and future. Addressing a ceremony at Alhamra Arts Council, he said Iqbal's philosophy remained alive in the hearts of Pakistani youth and that the country's future was bright if the younger generation remained connected with his thoughts. 'Pakistan has two atomic bombs — one is its defence capability and the other is Iqbal's philosophy,' he remarked, adding that Iqbal had awakened a sense of freedom, self-respect and confidence among a nation living under colonial rule. Ahsan said Allama Iqbal had presented the Muslims of the subcontinent with the vision of a separate homeland and showed them the path to achieve it. He recalled that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had allocated Rs100,000 for the Iqbal Academy in Pakistan's first budget, recognising the importance of the poet's intellectual legacy. The minister regretted that Iqbal's philosophy had not received its due place in the country's education system. He said the government was taking steps to make Iqbal's thought a central part of the national curriculum to help young people understand their national identity and intellectual heritage. He emphasised the need to promote knowledge, research, curiosity and creative thinking among students, and said education should go beyond academic degrees and instil confidence, awareness and a sense of national responsibility. The minister called for moving beyond what he described as Lord Macaulay's outdated educational model and developing a system aligned with the country's cultural and national identity. He said Iqbal's philosophy taught selfhood, confidence and persistent struggle, while his message inspired hope, determination and action rather than despair. The minister said education, research and intellectual development must remain priorities for national progress, adding that the country's future depended on engaging young people with Iqbal's thought and harnessing their potential for development.