Pakistani Americans Honor Politician, Scholar, and Poet Muhammad Iqbal By Co-Naming Street Corner in Queens

The Pakistani American community in New York City gathered at the Richmond Hill neighborhood in Queens this past weekend to name a street corner to honor politician, scholar, lawyer and well known poet Muhammad Iqbal. Commonly referred to as the honorific Allama meaning “very knowing and most learned,” he is considered to have given the vision for the creation of Pakistan, whereas Jinnah is considered to be the one who shaped this vision.

The Aug. 6 co-naming of the corner of 109th Street and 101st Avenue in Richmond Hill as ‘Allama Iqbal Avenue,’ is the culmination of an initiative by the American-Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG), reported QNS, a news site covering New York City, focusing on the latest news, sports, crime, politics, and entertainment.Local elected officials including Assembly members David Weprin and Jenifer Rajkumar and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ office, attended the event and unveiled the street sign.

Adams called Iqbal as “ one of the defining poets, scholars, and leaders of his time” whose “work and vision led to the creation of Pakistan as an independent country. His legacy lives on today in the vibrant Pakistani community that has contributed to the cultural fabric of New York City.”

APAG head Ali Rashid also addressed the gathering. “It is a proud moment for all of us,” he said, according to QNS. Noting that “the co-naming represents a monumental accomplishment for Pakistani Americans in New York and throughout the United States,” Rashid called it “an Independence Day gift to the community here as well as to the people of Pakistan.” He said “the co-naming ceremony will help develop immense cultural understanding and aid in interweaving our communities further.”