Iqbal Day is observed across Pakistan on 9 November which was previously a public holiday but rumours are circulating on social media that schools will be off as it will be made a public holiday once again.
No notification was issued by Ministry of Interior on this issue. Rather Shehryar Afridi who is the interior minister rejected these rumours. He said that our vision for Naya Pakistan is to work 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
9th November is the date of birth of Allama Iqbal who was born in the year 1877 in the city of Sialkot. He is the national poet of Pakistan and is attributed with the idea of a separate nation for Muslims of subcontinent.
Iqbal was a thinker, philosopher, poet and politician who is mainly remembered because of his revolutionary poetry.
He is credited with reviving the youth with Islamic political thought, especially among the educated class of Muslims in colonial India against waves of secularism.
The public holiday was suspended by the previous government despite facing criticism. Previously all schools, colleges and universities in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab & KPK remained close on 9th November along with government departments and banks.
Schools also arranged special events to remember the contribution of Allama Iqbal in the awakening of Muslims in subcontinent which paved the way for independence of Pakistan.
Many believe that heroes like Allama Iqbal should be remembered because creation of Pakistan was a fulfillment of his dream. A petition was also filed in Lahore High Court to declare Iqbal Day a national holiday.