LAHORE: (Wednesday, December 20, 2023): Turkiye's Consul General Mr Durmus Bastug has said that Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Akif played an important role in the history of our nations by giving the lesson of independence and their thoughts will always live in our hearts. He was addressing an international conference on the great thinkers of Pakistan and Turkiye, Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Akif Ersoy organized by Punjab University Institute of Urdu Language and literature at Sheerani Hall here on Wednesday. On this occasion, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, Director Institute of Urdu Language and Literature Prof Dr Muhammad Kamran, Home Economics University VC Prof Dr Faleeha Kazmi, Head of Yunus Emre Pakistan Dr Khalil Toqar, Executive Editor of Turkiye Urdu Muhammad Hassaan, researchers, faculty members and a large number of students were present. In his address, Mr Bastug said that Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Akif are saviors of their nations and both poets played a role in awakening their nations. He said that Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Akif also played an active role against the capitalist system. He said that the thoughts of both the poets are a torch for the youth even today. He said that both thinkers were concerned about the future of the youth. He said that Iqbal and Akif emphasized the importance of education for the development of the Muslims. PU VC Dr Khalid Mahmood said that Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Akif mainly focused on freedom. He said that Iqbal and Akif cared for the Muslim Ummah. He said that Iqbal and Akif taught the lesson of greatness of hard work. He said that what is happening in Gaza today shows how free we are. He said that we got freedom from English people but could not get freedom from the English language. He said that those events covering relations between Pakistan and other countries and where English is not the official language of the other country, should be conducted in national languages instead of English language. Dr Faleeha Kazmi said that Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Akif changed the thoughts of the nations with their art. He said that both are great poets and thinkers of the Islamic world. Dr Khalil Toqar said that the English language is not preferred in Turkiye. He said that both languages are getting developed in Turkiye and Pakistan. He said that people in Turkiye know Allama Iqbal very well and his words have been translated into Turkish. He said that Muhammad Akif is the author of the national anthem of freedom. He said that Allama Iqbal’s speech is a torch for the Turkish nation as well. Dr Saadat presented his paper in the conference.