Monday 9 November 2026 is a public holiday for Iqbal Day, in Punjab and across Pakistan, so many people get a three-day weekend from Saturday 7 to Monday 9 November. The Punjab government notified the holiday on 30 October, and the federal Cabinet Division has declared it countrywide [1][2]. If you plan to leave Lahore for the long weekend, expect heavy smog in the city, cold nights in the hills, and fuel prices that now change every few days. Book transport early and check the motorway before you set off.
Is 9 November 2026 a holiday?
Yes. The Punjab Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) issued notification No. SOW-I(SG&GAD)2-1/2026 on Friday 30 October, saying Monday 9 November will be a public holiday throughout the province [1]. Samaa reported that the federal government has also announced a countrywide holiday on 9 November through the Cabinet Division [2]. The day marks the birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
Daily Pakistan notes that the three-day break from 7 to 9 November applies to people whose offices are normally closed on Saturday and Sunday, so it depends on your own workplace schedule [1].
Lahore's air before you leave
The long weekend falls in the worst part of the smog season. On Monday 2 November, APP reported an overall AQI of 530 in Lahore, with 902 in Iqbal Town and 698 in Paragon City, in dry weather with winds of only about 3 km/h [3]. The Express Tribune reported that IQAir put Lahore at 535 at 8 am, and that Gujranwala read 606 the same morning [4]. Samaa listed Islamabad at 173, much lower than Lahore's level [5].
Crop burning is part of the cause. The Express Tribune cited NASA satellite data showing 13,241 fire spots in Pakistani Punjab between 1 and 29 October, with Okara, Gujranwala and Nankana Sahib among the worst districts [4].
What this means for a trip: keep car windows shut with the air on recirculate inside the smog belt, carry N95 masks for stops, and expect the air to improve as you head north towards Islamabad.
Murree and the north: weather and the new winter plan
PMD's tourist forecast, issued on 30 October, expected cloudy weather with light rain and light snow over the mountains at places including Murree, Galiyat, Naran and Hunza from 31 October to 4 November [6]. Pakera, reading PMD's tables, notes that this snow means high slopes rather than towns. Murree was forecast at 17 to 19°C in the daytime, while overnight lows fell to 1°C at Babusar and 2°C at Skardu [6]. Pack for cold nights, not for the afternoon.
On 2 November, The Express Tribune reported that the district administration, NDMA and Rescue 1122 had activated "Mission Safe Winter" for Murree, after the first snowfall in the Galiyat region [7]. The plan includes:
- 19 tourist facilitation centres across Murree, the Galiyat and the routes in [7]
- 181 Safe City cameras and thermal drones watching roads and entry points [7]
- More than 20 snow-clearing vehicles, cranes and loaders at key points [7]
- PERA checks on hotels and petrol stations against overcharging [7]
The official winter tourism season runs from 15 December to 15 February [7], so a 9 November trip is early. Do not expect snow in town.
Check the motorway, not just the forecast
Fog season on Punjab's motorways usually starts after smog. Before any intercity drive, call the NHMP helpline 130 or open its travel advisory board, which lists closures and diversions by sector [8]. When Pakera checked PMD's highway fog tables on 31 October, they still carried a February 2026 issue date, so treat an old "No Fog" as no information [9]. Fog is usually thickest from midnight until just after sunrise [8], so a morning start on Saturday is safer than a pre-dawn one.
Fuel: prices now move every few days
Petrol stayed at Rs 377.91 per litre and diesel rose by Rs 2.29 to Rs 402.96 for 31 October to 2 November [10]. Geo News reported on 1 November that the federal cabinet approved a revised petrol pricing formula on 30 October. For the next 30 days, local refinery cost parts are fixed at 7 March 2026 levels, and the documents say the benefit will be passed on to consumers. The Rs 80 per litre petroleum levy stays the same [11]. Check the latest notification the day you fill up, and start a long trip with a full tank.
FAQ
Is Iqbal Day 2026 a public holiday? Yes. Monday 9 November 2026 is a public holiday in Punjab under the S&GAD notification of 30 October, and the federal government has declared it countrywide [1][2].
Will it snow in Murree on the Iqbal Day weekend? PMD expected only light snow on high mountains from 31 October to 4 November, with Murree daytime temperatures of 17 to 19°C [6]. The official winter season starts on 15 December [7].
How do I check if the motorway is open? Call NHMP helpline 130 or check the NHMP travel advisory board on the morning you leave [8].
Planning a long-weekend trip? Travel with a Grand driver
Grand Rent a Car in Lahore rents cars with a driver only, so no one in the family has to drive through smog or fog. Our own fleet is two black Land Cruisers (LC-300 look), two black Fortuner 2026s, a black Prado, a black JAC T9 and a white Toyota Yaris. For a bigger group, a Toyota Coaster can be arranged on request. Out-of-city trips are the daily slot rate plus 25%, the driver's night stay is Rs 2,000 per night, and tolls are extra. See our SUVs with driver and the full rate list, then send your dates on WhatsApp +92 323 0096844. Long weekends fill first.
Roman Urdu
9 November 2026 (Somvar) ko Iqbal Day ki chutti hai, is liye kai logon ka weekend 7 se 9 November tak teen din ka hoga. Lahore mein smog bohat zyada hai, Murree mein din ka mausam theek magar raatein thandi hain, aur petrol ki qeemat har chand din baad badalti hai. Safar se pehle NHMP 130 par call karein. Grand Rent a Car driver ke sath gari deta hai, shehar se bahar +25%.
Sources
- Daily Pakistan, "Iqbal Day 2026 Holiday Notification", 30 Oct 2026. https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/30-Oct-2026/iqbal-day-2026-holiday-notification
- Samaa TV, "Public holiday declared on Nov 9", 30 Oct 2026. https://www.samaa.tv/2087359387-public-holiday-declared-on-nov-9
- APP, "Lahore records hazardous air quality as AQI reaches 530", 2 Nov 2026. https://www.app.com.pk/domestic/lahore-records-hazardous-air-quality-as-aqi-reaches-530/
- The Express Tribune, "Lahore's AQI soars to 535 early morning as air pollution reaches hazardous levels", 2 Nov 2026. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2638247/lahores-aqi-soars-to-535-early-morning-as-air-pollution-reaches-hazardous-levels
- Samaa TV, "Smog grips Punjab: Lahore tops global pollution rankings, AQI surpasses 530", 2 Nov 2026. https://www.samaa.tv/2087359507-smog-grips-punjab-lahore-tops-global-pollution-rankings-aqi-surpasses-530
- Pakera, "Murree, Naran, Hunza Snow Forecast 31 Oct to 4 Nov 2026 (PMD)", 31 Oct 2026. https://pakera.pk/murree-naran-hunza-snowfall-forecast-31-october-4-november-2026-pmd/
- The Express Tribune, "Murree rolls out winter safety plan for tourists", 2 Nov 2026. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2638187/murree-rolls-out-winter-safety-plan-for-tourists
- Pakera, "Motorway Status Today: Check NHMP Road Updates". https://pakera.pk/motorway-status-check-nhmp/
- Pakera, "GT Road Fog Update: PMD Highway Fog Table", checked 31 Oct 2026. https://pakera.pk/gt-road-fog-update-pmd-highway-fog-table-n5-every-sector/
- ARY News Urdu, petrol and diesel price notification for 31 Oct to 2 Nov 2026, 30 Oct 2026. https://urdu.arynews.tv/petrol-price-for-2-november-2026/
- Geo News, "Govt revises petrol pricing formula amid US-Iran war", 1 Nov 2026. https://www.geo.tv/latest/689276-govt-revises-petrol-pricing-formula-amid-iran-us-war
- Grand rates: live https://grandrentacar.net/car-rental-rates-lahore/ and /out-of-city-car-rental-lahore/ (read 2 Nov 2026).
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