–Waleed Iqbal says Iqbal was man ahead of his time
–Arif Nizami says govt should act to curtail inflation
LAHORE: On the 81st death anniversary of Allama Iqbal a seminar on the topic ” Iqbal and Economy” was held at Aiwan-e-Iqbal where the panellists discouraged the concept of interest, loans and usury.
Further, the seminar was attended by Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex Chairman and Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami, Senator Waleed Iqbal, journalist Orya Maqbool Jan and Sajjad Mir.
Waleed Iqbal, the grandson of Allama Iqbal, said,” Economy is a hot topic these days and I am happy to discuss his thought on the economy.
Since the creation of Pakistan, no government could work according to the teachings of Iqbal; therefore, this current government cannot make drastic changes overnight, he said.
Waleed, who’s also a senator, said that people must give the government a short while to settle the prevalent issues.
Iqbal was ahead of his time, he said, adding the philosopher-poet had at that time urged Pakistan to adopt the techniques and methods of the developed countries.
Journalist Orya Maqbool Jan said Iqbal opposed “curse” of usury, interest and loans back in his time and had also written against the loan system.
He said these external forces which have drowned us in debts and that Pakistani leaders have become beggars. Iqbal’s philosophy of economy was an interest-free economy, he said.
Sajjad Mir also criticised the modern banking system. He said Iqbal was against loans and the government should follow his vision to rid the country of contemporary evils.
“Our leaders failed to follow his teachings and that is why they celebrate taking loans from IMF, China, Saudi Arabia and other countries,” he said, adding it was about time Pakistan overcame this issue.
Arif Nizami thanked the speakers for attending the session. He also talked on the economy. He said the government needed to take strong measures to fix the economy else there would be no ‘Riyasat-e-Medina’ as people would lose all their patients.
Nizami said if the prime minister is a follower of Iqbal then he should be following his teachings and brought change in people’s lives.
