ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal government has declared a public holiday on November 9 to mark the birth anniversary of national poet Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the Cabinet Division said on Friday.
As per the notification, all educational institutions, government and private offices will remain closed on Monday, November 9, 2026, on the occasion of Allama Iqbal Day.
The holiday was given under the Cabinet Division’s circular, dated January 19, 2026, listing Public and Optional Holidays for the year 2026.
All ministries and departments have been instructed to ensure the implementation of the notification.
The citizens who observe two weekly holidays will enjoy three consecutive days off from November 7 to 9.
With Saturday and Sunday falling on November 7 and 8, the public holiday could give people a long weekend. The offices and educational institutions will resume on Tuesday, November 10.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal
Allama Muhammad Iqbal, widely known as the Poet of the East and Pakistan’s national poet, was born on November 9, 1877, in Sialkot.
He was a renowned poet, philosopher and political thinker whose ideas played an important role in shaping the intellectual foundations of the Pakistan Movement.
It was at the Allahabad session of the Muslim League in 1930 that Iqbal became the first politician to articulate the two-nation theory that ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.
Iqbal Day is observed annually to honour his literary contributions, philosophical thought and lasting influence on Pakistan’s national identity. Seminars, poetry recitals, educational programmes and discussions are commonly held to highlight his work and ideas.
