Murodjon Buriboev, the President of the ECO Cultural Institute (ECOCI), sent a message to the commemoration of Dr. Syed Mohammad Akram Ikram on September 2, 2022, in which he admired the pre-eminent position of the brilliant professor. The ceremony was organized by the Iranian Cultural Center in Lahore, in the presence of Persian language professors from various universities in Pakistan, a group of students of Dr. Akram Ikram, and diplomats from the Iranian embassy.
According to the ECOCI, Murodjon Buriboev in a message, condoling the death of Dr. Syed Mohammad Akram Ikram, said: "Professor Akram Shah was a poet and writer, a prominent Iqbal scholar and an honorary member of the Iranian Academy of Persian Language and Literature, who authored many books in cultural commonalities. He also spent his lifetime trying to promote the Persian language in Pakistan. He deeply believed that the Persian language is an 'infinite treasure trove'."
The ECOCI President further thanked the Iranian Cultural Center of the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Lahore for holding this commemoration and added: "In the ECO region, we are always proud of the endless treasure trove of scientific, literary and artistic figures and their original ideas that represent the authentic culture of this vast region. We believe that we should be inspired by the wisdom of these luminaries to enhance cultural vibrancy."
Jafar Ronas, Director General of Iranian Cultural Center in Lahore; Mohammad Reza Nazari, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Lahore; Waheedul Zaman Tariq, Iqbal scholar; Saleem Mazhar, President of Sargodha University; Muhammad Farid, professor at Punjab University and the son of Syed Muhammad Akram Ikram; Uzma Zareen Nazia, professor at Punjab University in Lahore; Iqbal Shahid, Head of the Department of Languages of Lahore State University, were amongst the speakers of the meeting, who delivered speeches about the Syed Muhammad Akram Ikram’s scientific and cultural position, distinctive traits and his efforts to promote the Persian language and literature throughout Pakistan. Also, at the event, a video message by Dr. Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, the head of the Saadi Foundation and Persian Language and Literature Academy, was displayed.
Dr. Syed Muhammad Akram Ikram, known as "Akram Shah", was born in Lahore in 1932 and died on August 20, 2022, at the age of 90. After receiving a master's degree from the University of Punjab, Lahore, he went to the Islamic Republic of Iran and in 1963, he received a Ph.D. degree in Persian language and literature from the University of Tehran. Later on, for a while, he was the head of the Department of Persian Literature and the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the University of Punjab as well as the Research Chair of Hujwiri Studies. In 2021 he was elected as an honorary member by the Academy of Persian Language and Literature.