Will Pakistan get a public holiday for Iqbal Day 2025? Check details

Pakistan is set to observe Iqbal Day on November 9, 2025, to honor Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the poet and philosopher who inspired the idea of Pakistan. However, this year the date falls on a Sunday, leading many citizens to wonder whether the government will announce an extra holiday.

In 2023, the federal government officially restored Iqbal Day as a national holiday after several years, closing schools, offices, and institutions across the country. The move was welcomed by the public as a fitting tribute to Iqbal’s legacy. The tradition continued in 2024, with a nationwide day off once again observed on November 9.

Now in 2025, since the date coincides with the weekend, people are curious if the government will declare a substitute day off so that citizens can properly commemorate the occasion.

In many countries, like the United States, when a public holiday falls on a weekend, it’s moved to the nearest weekday — usually Monday — to make sure people don’t miss their day off. But in Pakistan, this practice is rare. Public holidays are typically observed only on their actual dates, regardless of which day they fall on.

So far, the government has not issued any notification about an additional or compensatory off day for Iqbal Day 2025.

As the date approaches, the question remains — will Pakistan follow the global practice and shift the observance, or will Iqbal Day 2025 quietly pass as a regular Sunday?

Public Holidays in Pakistan – 2025