The federal government has declared November 9 a public holiday across the country on the occasion of Iqbal Day, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday.
“Monday, Nov 9, shall be a public holiday throughout the country on the occasion of Allama Iqbal Day,” the notification said, referring to a circular issued by the Cabinet Division in January listing public and optional holidays for 2026.
The Punjab government also declared November 9 a public holiday in the province to mark the 149th birth anniversary of Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan.
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“It is notified for general information that 9th November 2026 (Monday) shall be observed as a public holiday in the Province of Punjab on the occasion of Allama Iqbal Day,” a notification issued by the provincial government said.
The Sindh government on Wednesday announced that all public and private schools across the province would remain closed on November 9 to observe the occasion.
Iqbal Day had remained on the calendar of national public holidays for decades. However, the interior ministry, through a circular issued on November 4, 2015, announced the cancellation of the annual holiday without specifying a reason. The holiday was restored in 2022 by the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Born on November 9, 1877, in Sialkot, Allama Muhammad Iqbal was a prominent poet and philosopher of the subcontinent who played a significant role in the Pakistan movement.
Through his poetry, Iqbal sought to inspire intellectual and spiritual awakening among Muslims of the subcontinent. His works have been translated into several languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and English.
He died on April 21, 1938, nearly nine years before the creation of Pakistan.
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