Punjab University has declared a holiday on November 9 to commemorate Iqbal Day. The official notification confirms that the university will remain closed on this day.
The decision comes after a period of uncertainty and confusion among the public regarding the status of the holiday. This confusion was primarily due to the suspension of the Iqbal Day holiday from 2015 to 2021. However, in November 2022, then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reinstated Iqbal Day as a public holiday. Following this, the Interior Ministry also officially recognized Iqbal Day 2023 as a public holiday.
Despite these declarations, past experiences have led to some skepticism and confusion among the public. The recent announcement by Punjab University is expected to provide clarity and assurance to its students and staff about the observance of the holiday this year.
In other news, Punjab University has recently been recognized as the best university in Pakistan in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024 by Subject. Out of 11 subjects, Pakistani universities were ranked in 9, with Punjab University being ranked in 7, making it the most-ranked Pakistani university.
This announcement of the holiday and the recognition in the rankings highlight the university’s commitment to both academic excellence and cultural observance.
