SIALKOT: The 139th birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal was celebrated with traditional zeal and enthusiasm here on Wednesday.

A cake-cutting ceremony was held at the Iqbal Manzil, the birthplace of the poet of the East, under the auspices of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry. SCCI VicePresident Mian Imran Akbar cut the cake.

A large number of people, including teachers and students, also visited the Iqbal Manzil. Besides reciting Kalaam-i-Iqbal, speech contests were also held on the occasion.

MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Ikram, DCO Dr Muhammad Tufail, ADC(G) Dr Umer Sher Chattha and scores of people also visited the gravesof Allama Iqbal`s parents andlaid wreaths.

Iqbal Manzil in-charge Syed Riaz Husain Naqvi said several rare pictures of Iqbal and his family, 22, unrevealed letters of the poet-philosopher and rare books on Iqbaliyaat were also displayed for the public.

The DCO addressed a seminar on Iqbaliyaat held at the press club.

A symposium on Iqbaliyaat was also held at the Government Murray College, the alma mater of Allama Iqbal. Students of 15 colleges of the district participated in the intercollegiate Kalam-i-Iqbal competition.

Meanwhile, the 102nd death anniversary of Imam Bibi, the mother of Allama Iqbal, was also observed here. Correspondent