Govt restores Iqbal Day holiday

The federal government on Tuesday announced November 9 as a public holiday, in connection with the birth anniversary of the country’s national poet and philosopher Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

A notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said, “The Prime Minister has been pleased to desire that 9th November (Iqbal Day) shall henceforth be observed as a public holiday”.

Following this, the Cabinet Division in a notification issued said, “In continuation of the Cabinet Division’s circular No. 10-01/2021-Min-II dated 17th December 2021, it is for general information that the Prime Minister is pleased to restore the public holiday on occasion of Allama Iqbal, i.e. 9th November. Therefore, Wednesday 9th November 2022 shall be observed as public holiday throughout the country”.

Earlier this year, the Cabinet Division had released the schedule of public holidays for the year 2022.

According to the notification, February 5 (Kashmir Solidarity Day), March 23 (Pakistan Day), May 1 (Labour Day), May 3, 4 and 5 (Eidul Fitr), July 10, 11 and 12 (Eidul Azha), August 7 and 8 (Ashura), August 14 (Independence Day), October 9 (Eid Miladun Nabi PBUH) and December 25 (Quaid-e-Azam Day) had been declared designated holidays for the year.

Earlier, the Centre had declared February 5 a public holiday. The day is included in the list of gazetted holidays of the federal government every year.