CAMBRIDGE: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, proposed hosting an International Iqbal Conference in 2027 at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, marking the 150th birth anniversary of Pakistan’s national poet-philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
The announcement was made during his keynote address at an event organised by Cambridge University Pakistan Society in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives as part of Iqbal Day celebrations.
Prof. Iqbal highlighted the enduring relevance of Iqbal’s philosophy of Khudi (selfhood), describing it as a call to moral elevation, intellectual empowerment, and purposeful self-realisation.
“Iqbal taught us that nations do not perish from poverty, but from a loss of self-belief,” he said, stressing that the philosophy encourages disciplined, morally awakened selfhood rather than arrogance.
He reflected on Iqbal’s transformative years at Cambridge, noting that the exposure to Western thought helped the poet critically engage with global ideas while preserving his cultural and spiritual identity. The minister emphasized that Pakistan today faces economic, governance, and social challenges that require reviving the spirit of Khudi, enabling the nation to harness its youth, creativity, strategic geography, and resilience.
Prof. Iqbal introduced “URAAN Pakistan”, the country’s national development framework inspired by Iqbal’s vision, focusing on youth skills, digital transformation, institutional reforms, inclusion, and public–private partnerships. He connected the Shaheen, Iqbal’s symbolic motif, to ideals of courage, independent thought, and clarity of vision, urging Pakistan’s youth to see themselves as authors of their destiny.
The minister proposed that the 2027 conference at Trinity College should bring together philosophers, historians, economists, scientists, artists, and young scholars worldwide to revisit Iqbal’s contributions to philosophy, ethics, and global development.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to support and collaborate with Cambridge to ensure the conference becomes a landmark event celebrating Iqbal’s legacy.
Prof. Iqbal also engaged with students and academics, including Master of Trinity College Prof. Dame Sally Davies and Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Kamal Munir, and visited the Wren Library to explore rare Iqbal manuscripts and artefacts, highlighting the poet-philosopher’s lasting influence on generations.
