Rawalpindi, The Punjab Arts Council, in collaboration with the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association, commemorated Iqbal Day by organizing Kalam-e-Iqbal, Speech, and Tableau competitions. The event aimed to pay tribute to Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s contributions to Urdu literature and the Muslim Ummah.
According to Rawalpindi Arts Council Rawalpindi, the competitions were graced by Naheed Manzoor and Director of Arts Council Waqar Ahmed as chief guests. Malik Ibrar Ahmad Khan, Member DRA Rawalpindi & President APPSMA, and Aamir, Divisional President APPSMA, attended as guests of honor.
During the ceremony, Naheed Manzoor spoke about the significance of Allama Iqbal’s poetry in the history of the Urdu language and its political impact on the Muslims of the subcontinent. She highlighted Iqbal’s role in awakening the nation to determine its destiny. Director Arts Council Waqar Ahmad emphasized Iqbal’s message of unity and his status as a modern Sufi, noting his contributions to Sufism and the revival of the Islamic Ummah.
In the competitions, City Lyceum School, Rising Stars Public School, Bright land Secondary School, and Umbreen Educational Hub secured the first four positions, respectively, in the Tableau competitions. The Speech competitions saw Kanwal Nazir, Hadiya Noor, Tahmi Abid, and Manahil Riaz winning the top four prizes. In the Kalam-e-Iqbal category, Ayesha Lathani School, Umbrian Educational Hub, AIMS School Girls, and Paradise Public School emerged as winners.
The event concluded with the distribution of shields and certificates of appreciation to the schools and children who excelled in the competitions. This celebration of Iqbal Day by the Punjab Arts Council and APPSMA highlights the ongoing relevance of Allama Iqbal’s legacy in contemporary Pakistan.