In the today’s busy life, many consider a holiday a blessing. It is not that they want to run away from work but the holidays give us the opportunity to spend time with family, plan a trip and it is especially good for offsetting some of work stress. Pakistan is a country, which was once called a holidays heaven, it still is for the education sector, the students and teachers.
For others, especially the people working in offices and banks, things have changed. They get less opportunities of the day off now, throughout the year. In the past there were many days, which used to be holidays but were changed to work days later on. Lots of debate can be done on whether that was good or bad. Everyone holds their own opinion about that. Some argue that we should not have too many holidays and should work as a nation on as many days as possible. Others insist to have more days off.
Public Holidays in Pakistan for year 2023
One thing is for sure, lots of Pakistanis do love the holidays and they spend as well as celebrate them like they should. Today we came up with a list of public holidays for offices and banks, for the calendar year 2023, the list can be seen below on this page.
| Date | Holiday | Day of Week |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2, 2023 | Bank Holiday (Banks are Closed) | Thursday |
| Feb 5, 2023 | Kashmir Solidarity Day | Sunday |
| Mar 22, 2023 | Bank Holiday (Banks are Closed) | Wednesday |
| Mar 23, 2023 | Pakistan Day | Thursday |
| Apr 10, 2023 | Easter Monday (Optional Holiday) Christians can avail it. | Monday |
| Apr 21 to Apr 25, 2023 | Eid-ul-Fitr Holidays | Saturday to Monday |
| May 1, 2023 | Labour Day | Monday |
| Jun 29 to Jul 01, 2023 | Eid-ul-Azha Holidays | Thursday to Saturday |
| Jul 03, 2023 | Bank Holiday (Banks are Closed) | Monday |
| Jul 27 to Jul 28, 2023 | Ashura Days | Thursday & Friday |
| Aug 14, 2023 | Independence Day | Monday |
| Sep 29, 2023 | Eid Milad-un-Nabi | Friday |
| Nov 9, 2023 | Iqbal Day | Thursday |
| Dec 25, 2023 | Quaid-e-Azam Day / Christmas Day | Monday |
Please checkout the list of Public holidays for year 2024.
Details of Public Holidays
Normally, all the Pakistanis know the purpose of all the holidays they enjoy, very well. But still for someone keen to know more about details about the holidays, it is given below.
Bank Holidays
These are not the public holidays, these are just for banks. Banks are closed on these days for normal public. Also, bank holidays are not for the bank employees. They perform the tasks, which could have not been performed on days, on which banks are open for customers. This holiday normally comes on the start of calendar year, also on the mid of calendar year, which is also the start of financial year in Pakistan. Also once in March as this holiday is also observed, every year. So in total there are normally three bank holidays every year, the days on which banks are closed for customers.
Kashmir Solidarity Day
Every year on the 5th of February, the Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed in Pakistan. As the name suggests, the Pakistanis show solidarity with the people of Kashmir, the ones in Indian occupied Kashmir. This day is celebrated by Pakistani people to send a message to Kashmiri brothers and sisters, that we are with you and will speakup on every international forum for your right of self determination. A right given by United Nations (UN) to Kashmiris, so that they can choose by a referendum that either they want to join Pakistan or India or they want to live as independent state. A right which India have denied for several decades.
Pakistan Day
Again, as every Pakistani knows, on March 23, 1940, a resolution was passed in Lahore that the muslims of subcontinent, which were a minority, are not allowed to follow their religious duties freely, so they need a separate country. Where they will be able to perform their religious duties freely and also the Islamic laws will govern the country. This resolution was initially known as Lahore resolution but later got popular by the name of Pakistan Resolution.
This resolution was the one, which eventually resulted in the existence of Pakistan, where not only muslims but also all the religious minorities are allowed to perform their religious duties freely. Pakistan Day is celebrated every year on March 23 to remember the same Pakistan Resolution, which resulted in separate nation consisting of muslim majority areas of subcontinent. If you are interested, you can also go and check the full text of Pakistan Resolution.
Easter Monday
Easter is a religious and cultural occasion of christian community. Pakistani law allows the optional holidays for different religious communities. Christian community can avail this holiday on the monday following the easter.
Eid-ul-Fitr Holidays
Eid-ul-Fitr is a occasion celebrated by the muslims after the month of Ramadan. Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr holidays comes after that.
Labour Day
This holiday is observed by majority of countries in the world. This is observed as ‘Labour Day’ or some call it ‘International Workers Day’. Mostly this day is observed in order to promote the work and life balance.
Eid-ul-Azha Holidays
Another religions occasion of Muslims, celebrated worldwide once a year, every year. It is celebrated in order to remember and honor the willingness of Hazrat Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Hazrat Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of obedience to Allah’s (God) command. However, Allah gave Hazrat Ibrahim a lamb which was sacrificed on place of his son. Muslims celebrate this eid every year to remember the act of Allah’s obedience of Hazrat Ibrahim. Also all muslims sacrifice an animal, a lamb, a goat, a bull, a camel or other halal animal on this occasion to remember the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim.
Ashura Days
Ashura is 10th of muharram, the month of Islamic calendar. This is observed to remember the battle between Hazrat Hussain and Yazid. Also the lives which were taken in Karbala by the army of Yazid. Pakistanis are given two holidays, one on 9th and other on 10th of Muharram every year.
Independence Day
Like every nation, Pakistan also celebrates its independence day with great pride. This day is observed and celebrated on 14th of August every year. This day is celebrated because got independence from british rule in 1947, also we formed a separate state of Pakistan which consisted of the muslim majority areas. Day is observed in order to celebrate the independence and also to remember the sacrifices which muslims given for independence.
Eid Milad-un-Nabi
Eid Milad-un-Nabi is celebrated by many muslims on 12th of Rabi Al-Awal. This is the date of birth of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In Pakistan this is a public holiday, which is observed every year.
Iqbal Day
This day is celebrated on Nov 9 of every year. Nov 9th is the date of birth of great poet and philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He dreamed of Pakistan, a separate nation in subcontinent, comprising of muslim majority areas.
Quaid-e-Azam Day
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was also known as Quaid-e-Azam (the great leader), was born on 25th of December 1876. He was the founder of Pakistan. So every year Pakistanis celebrate this day on Dec 25 to remember him. This is a public holiday here in Pakistan.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is a religious occasion of christians which is celebrated on Dec 25 every year. Means, this also coincides with Quaid-e-Azam day, which is already a public holiday in Pakistan.