President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday called for renewed engagement with Allama Muhammad Iqbal's intellectual and philosophical legacy, stressing his ideals of selfhood, equality, social justice, national dignity and intellectual awakening as essential to Pakistan's future. In their separate messages ahead of the national poet's 149th birth anniversary, being observed on November 9, President Zardari urged young people to draw inspiration from Iqbal's poetry to develop critical thinking and a spirit of inquiry, while emphasising his vision of an egalitarian society founded on the dignity of labour and equal opportunities. Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz announced the launch of year-long national and international commemorative activities, beginning on November 8 and culminating on November 9 next year, to promote Iqbal's intellectual legacy through academic, literary and cultural engagements. In his message, President Zardari said, "On the 149th birth anniversary of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, I pay tribute to our national poet, whose words awakened people to their dignity, their rights and their power to shape their own destiny". He said that the poet-philosopher gave intellectual direction to the aspirations of the Muslims of the Subcontinent. "His poetry also spoke to a wider human struggle: the pursuit of freedom, equality and a life of self-respect." "Iqbal envisioned a society in which wealth, privilege and inherited status would no longer determine a person's worth or opportunities. His poetry challenged exploitation, called for the awakening of the poor and upheld the dignity of labour," he added. In his message on Iqbal Day, the prime minister said, "A comprehensive programme of national and international events is being formally launched, featuring international conferences, academic and research seminars, literary festivals, exhibitions, educational competitions and cultural activities. These commemorative initiatives aim to preserve and transmit Iqbal's rich intellectual legacy to future generations." He said, "On the auspicious occasion of Iqbal Day, I pay my profound tribute to Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the Poet of the East. Allama Iqbal awakened political consciousness among the Muslims of the subcontinent, inspiring them to recognise and assert their distinct national identity. This consciousness of a separate identity played a pivotal role in their historic struggle for the creation of an independent homeland." "Allama Iqbal was a person of exceptional intellectual stature and profound wisdom. The enduring thought of this eminent philosopher and visionary continues to broaden intellectual horizons and foster the intellectual growth of our youth and future generations. As a distinguished philosopher of Islam, Allama Iqbal explored the profound intellectual dimensions of Islamic teachings. His Islamic thought continues to offer meaningful and practical guidance to Muslims in their individual and collective lives," he added. He said, "The government is firmly committed to ensuring that Iqbal's thought remains a dynamic and integral part of our educational institutions, national discourse and development priorities. Intellectual awakening, character building and collective renewal must, undoubtedly, form an essential part of our national objectives."