Is it public holiday on Iqbal day?

In honor of Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s birth anniversary, Pakistan is scheduled to declare November 9 a national holiday. However, this year, the date falls on a Sunday, which raises the well-known question of whether an extra day off will be declared.

After a number of years, the federal government formally reinstated Iqbal Day as a national holiday in 2023, permittingpublic institutions, workplaces, and schools to stay closed on November 9. Many people applauded the action as a nod to the poet-philosopher who gave rise to the concept of Pakistan.

In 2024, a statewide day off was once again commemorated on November 9, carrying on the tradition. But since the event falls on a weekend in 2025, some are wondering if the government would announce a different holiday so that everyone can celebrate the day to the fullest.

When a public holiday comes on a weekend in a number of nations, including the US, it is automatically observed on the closest weekday, usually Monday if the date falls on a Sunday. This guarantees that the calendar overlap won’t cause citizens to lose their official day of rest or recognition.

However, Pakistan has hardly ever used this strategy. Regardless of the day of the week, the majority of holidays are faithfully celebrated on the designated dates. There hasn’t been any announcement from the government yet regarding a compensating off day for Iqbal Day 2025.

The question still stands as the day approaches: will Pakistan observe Iqbal Day 2025 as a regular Sunday or will it move in accordance with worldwide custom?

Public Holidays in Pakistan – 2025

A table of public holidays in Pakistan for the year 2025 is given below:

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