LAHORE, APR 21, (DNA) –  The 79th death anniversary of national poet Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal is being observed today (Friday) all over the country.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He is also recognised as national poet, and known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan, Shair-e-Mashriq and Hakeemul Ummat and is credited with sparking the pan-Islamic thought among Muslims of the subcontinent.

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.

Various social, political and cultural organizations will hold special programmes to pay homage to the poet. He passed away in Lahore on April 21, 1938.