F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: The 3rd International Conference on Iqbal 2023 was organized at Bahria University at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore Campuses on 28 November 2023. Chairmen HEC Prof Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed was the Chief Guest of the Opening Ceremony held at Bahria University Islamabad Campus (BUIC). A number of foreign universities and institutes are conference partners and have featured speakers among their scholars on Iqbal.
The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Iqbal as a catalyst in the Renaissance of Muslim Ummah’. More than one hundred research scholars and teachers sent their research paper abstracts. Seventy-two papers were selected and presented in the conference.
Rector Bahria University Vice Admiral (Retd) Asif Khaliq HI(M) while inaugurating the conference, highlighted that the endeavour of this conference is to bring Iqbal’s Qur’anic thoughts to practical implementable levels and educate our youth about his teachings and philosophy.
The Rector reminded the youth that they represent the vanguard of Muslim Ummah’s aspirations, and Allama Iqbal always had high expectations from them. The Rector thanked the foreign ambassadors for their interest in the conference.
Chief Guest, Prof Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, elaborated that Iqbal’s teachings are rooted in the authentic teachings of Islam and are relevant to the contemporary times.
Dr. Mukhtar reminded that Iqbal’s teachings encourage Muslims to rekindle their engagement in research and technology. Dr. Mukhtar further elaborated that Iqbal remains an enduring source of inspiration for the youth as potential architect of Ummah’s future.
Earlier, Dr. Muhammad Fayyaz, Director Conference while welcoming the guests narrated how the Iqbal Conferences at Bahria University has grown from national to high profile International conference where we have received research abstracts from a number of foreign countries which include Iran, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Egypt, Australia, and the United States of America.
In her keynote address Prof. Dr. Najeeba Arif, Chairperson Academy of Letters reminded that Iqbal’s message was not focused on the Indian Muslims only but was directed towards the Ummah. Iran could use his message in the reformation of society and so can other Muslim countries.
Chairman Iqbal Chair Bahria University recapped that the Muslim Ummah and Muslim countries should follow the teachings of Iqbal to make decisions that can help them solve their problems and carve pathways for the nation’s development.
Rear Admiral (R) Muhammad Arshid Javed SI(M), Pro-Rector (Academics) and the conference chair, while addressing the concluding session, elaborated that this conference aimed to delve into and explore the profound ways in which Iqbal’s teachings can contribute to the resurgence of the Muslim Ummah, rekindling its glorious past. He thanked national and international conference partners for participating in the conference.
Every year Bahria University organizes Iqbal Conference in November to commemorate Iqbal’s birth anniversary.
This is the fifth conference in as many years being organized by Iqbal Chair Bahria University. This was attended by a number of Ambassadors and intellectuals.
