The nation on Saturday celebrated the 142nd birth anniversary of the national poet Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal with traditional zeal and fervor. Various literary, educational, political, social and cultural organizations have arranged special programmes to pay homage to the national poet and highlighted different aspects of his life and teachings. A graceful change of guard ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, a poet of the East and philosopher. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Navy took charge of the guard duties. Station Commander of Pakistan Navy, Commodore Naimatullah Khan, who was the chief guest of the ceremony, laid floral wreath at the Mazar and offered fateha. He also noted down his impressions on the visitors’ book Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He is also recognised as national poet, and known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan (thinker of Pakistan), Shair-e-Mashriq (poet of the east) and Hakeemul Ummat (doctor of the Muslim ummah) and is credited with sparking the pan-Islamic thought among Muslims of the subcontinent. He passed his M.A in philosophy from Government College Lahore after which for higher education he went to London and from Lincoln’s Inn, he did his law. He also did his PhD in philosophy from Germany’s Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich. Among his 12,000 verses of poetry, about 7,000 verses are in Persian. Iqbal with his revolutionary poetry gave rebirth to the Muslims of the subcontinent. He used to symbolize the Muslims with Shaheen to motivate the Muslims who were suffering under British rule. The idea of Iqbal’s poetry was unique. This was the reason why he is considered as Pakistan’s greatest philosopher. The nation every year on 9th November gives a tribute to him on his efforts in the creation of Pakistan. This day is marked as Yom-E-Iqbal also known as Iqbal Day in the loving memory of Allama Iqbal.