Director of Iqbal Academy Pakistan Dr Abdul Rauf Rafiqui has said celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal have begun this year and will continue with a series of national and international events.

In an exclusive interview with Radio Pakistan’s correspondent Qasim Bukhari on the occasion of Iqbal Day, he said seminars, conferences and international academic and literary events would be organized to highlight Iqbal’s thought, philosophy and universal message.

Dr Abdul Rauf Rafiqui said scholarly and research-based work on Allama Iqbal had been carried out in forty-five languages. He said the Iqbal Academy had also arranged Malay translations of three books on Iqbal at the request of the Malaysian ambassador and sent them to Malaysia.

Emphasizing the importance of familiarizing the younger generation with Iqbal’s thought, Dr Abdul Rauf Rafiqui said Iqbal’s philosophy could inspire young people to excel in knowledge, research and practical endeavours.

He reaffirmed his commitment to promoting Allama Iqbal’s thought and philosophy at the national and international levels.