Nation observes 145th birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal.

LAHORE -- The 145th birth anniversary of national poet Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal is being observed today (Wednesday) all over the country with traditional zeal and enthusiasm.

The federal government has announced November 9 as a public holiday, in connection with the birth anniversary of the country's national poet and philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

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.

Allama Iqbal envisioned the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinenta which led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947.

He is also considered one of the most important figures in literature with literary works in both Urdu and Persian languages. Asrar-e-Khudi, Payam-i-Mashriq, Bang-i-Dara, Bal-i-Jibril, Zarb-i Kalim and Armughan-e-Hijaz were amongst his best works.

The nation is...