Three consecutive holidays expected for students and employees in November

What happened

Government employees and students in Pakistan are expected to receive three consecutive holidays in November due to the public holiday for Iqbal Day. According to the government calendar, November 9 falls on a Monday this year [1]. Because the preceding Saturday and Sunday are regular weekly holidays, government employees are expected to have a three-day break from November 7 to November 9 [1, 2].

Educational institutions are also expected to remain closed from November 7 to November 9, providing students with a three-day break [1, 2]. However, these holiday arrangements remain subject to official notifications from the relevant authorities [2].

Iqbal Day is observed annually on November 9 to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877 [1]. He is recognized as the poet of the East, a thinker, and the national poet and philosopher of Pakistan [1, 2]. On this day, various educational, literary, and social institutions typically hold speech competitions, debates, and seminars to highlight his philosophy, thought, and art [1].

In a separate matter, district administrations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa issued notifications for the closure of all public and private schools, colleges, and universities on Monday, October 12 [2]. This closure applied to three specific districts: Swabi, Mardan, and Nowshera [2].

• In Swabi, the deputy commissioner and District Education Officer directed the suspension of activities for the day due to the prevailing situation and the imposition of an emergency in the province [2].
• In Mardan, the deputy commissioner announced the holiday for all educational institutions, which resulted in the cancellation of all examinations and papers scheduled for that Monday [2].
• In Nowshera, Deputy Commissioner Gohar Zaman issued instructions to close public and private educational institutions and suspend teaching activities [2].

While examinations were cancelled in Mardan and Nowshera for October 12, the notifications did not specify revised dates for those exams [2].