Today was Iqbal Day, the birthday of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the philosopher, poet and politician who originally put forward the idea of an independent Muslim state that would become Pakistan. I also just realized that he was knighted by the British government (then the British Empire) for some of his works.
This day is a national holiday in Pakistan to commemorate Sir Iqbal, though myself and a number of other people I know are working away. You may say that it has something to do with being a workaholic or that we’ve lost any regard for such occasions, but I see it as a good sign. It wasn’t long ago that a large majority of Pakistanis took every opportunity to avoid work and a single national or religious holiday was accompanied by a number of additional (sick or personal) leaves. Looks like this attitude is changing and at least some are putting in the effort to make this country a better place. The Allama would be proud.