Government Announces Public Holiday on Iqbal Day Nationwide

Islamabad: The federal government has declared a public holiday across the country on November 9 to mark Iqbal Day. The Cabinet Division has issued an official notification confirming the holiday, which falls on Saturday, November 9, 2024.
The day will commemorate the 147th birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the renowned philosopher-poet and national poet of Pakistan.
Additionally, the State Bank of Pakistan announced that all its branches will remain closed on November 9 in observance of the holiday.
In a separate development, due to the rising levels of smog, the Punjab government has decided to close educational institutions in several districts until November 17. A notification issued by the Director-General of Environmental Protection stated that schools in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Nankana Sahib—both public and private—will remain closed for all levels, including Cambridge International Education’s A-Level programs. The closure decision also affects schools in Gojranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, and Multan.
The affected schools will switch to online classes, and the closure will remain in effect until November 17.