“The East rises from its deep sleep, and the sun appears, A new caravan arrives, and the old age disappears,” about a century after Allama Muhammad Iqbal wrote these words in “Zabur-e-Ajam”, his vision of an awakened East led by China has largely taken shape, as Asia emerges as a center of global economic and intellectual gravity.

In Gwadar, the flagship hub of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), that vision is reflected not only in infrastructure and connectivity but also in a renewed focus on knowledge and scholarship, says a report published by Gwadar Pro on Friday. The University of Gwadar on Thursday inaugurated an “Iqbal Corner” at its central library, marking a milestone in promoting Iqbal’s philosophy and fostering academic engagement in Pakistan’s strategic port city.

The inaugural ceremony was chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Abdul Razzaq Sabir. Director General of the Iqbal Academy Pakistan, Lahore, Dr. Abdul Rauf Rafiqi, and Director General of the National Language Promotion Department, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, attended as distinguished guests. Scholars and academic representatives from Allama Iqbal Open University, Turbat University and other institutions also participated.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sabir said the establishment of the Iqbal Corner would help introduce students to Iqbal’s intellectual legacy and promote research and academic excellence. “The Iqbal Corner will provide students and scholars with an opportunity to engage deeply with Iqbal’s philosophy and contribute to intellectual development in the region,” he said.

Rafiqi and Mazhar praised the university’s leadership for promoting higher education and national languages in Balochistan, describing the initiative as an important milestone in academic and literary advancement. They said such efforts would strengthen intellectual ties and inspire future generations.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China