Public Holidays in Pakistan
Statutory public holidays in Pakistan, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Pakistan at a glance
Pakistan’s public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar for religious dates, alongside national commemorations such as Independence Day on 14 August and Pakistan Day on 23 March.
Religious dates move about ten days earlier each Gregorian year, and Eid is decided by moon sighting, which can shift announced dates by a day.
Pakistan public holidays 2025
Pakistan has 16 public holidays in 2025 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Kashmir Solidarity Day | Feb 5Wed | National |
| Pakistan Day | Mar 23Sun | National |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 31Mon | National |
| Eid al-Fitr | Apr 1Tue | National |
| Eid al-Fitr | Apr 2Wed | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Thu | National |
| Youm-e-Takbeer | May 28Wed | National |
| Eid al-Adha | Jun 7Sat | National |
| Eid al-Adha | Jun 8Sun | National |
| Eid al-Adha | Jun 9Mon | National |
| Ashura | Jul 5Sat | National |
| Ashura | Jul 6Sun | National |
Showing 12 of 16 public holidays for 2025.
Major cities in Pakistan
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Pakistan.
Islamabad
A planned, leafy capital at the foot of the Margalla Hills.
Karachi
A vast port and financial city on the Arabian Sea with huge bazaars.
Lahore
A city of Mughal gardens, the Badshahi Mosque and a celebrated food scene.
Peshawar
A centuries-old trading city near the Khyber Pass with a walled old town.
Faisalabad
A textile manufacturing city on the Punjab plains.
Quetta
A high-altitude city ringed by mountains, with a large fruit market.
Top attractions in Pakistan
The places that draw most visitors to Pakistan.
Badshahi Mosque
A vast Mughal mosque of red sandstone and marble domes, facing Lahore Fort.
Mohenjo-daro
The ruins of a great Indus Valley city laid out on a grid.
Taxila
A cluster of Buddhist stupas, monasteries and a museum in the north.
Hunza Valley
Apricot orchards and terraced fields beneath snow-covered 7,000-metre peaks.
Faisal Mosque
A vast modern mosque shaped like a desert tent beneath the Margalla Hills.
Karakoram Highway
One of the world's highest paved roads, linking Pakistan to China.
Festivals, food and getting around Pakistan
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Shab e-Meraj
Falls on Jan 28
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🎉
Basant Panchami
Falls on Feb 2
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🎉
Kashmir Day
Falls on Feb 5
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🎉
Shab e-Barat
Falls on Feb 14
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🎉
Shivaratri
Falls on Feb 26
Food & drink
Getting around
Trains and buses cover the plains; the Karakoram and northern routes are spectacular but slow, and flights serve the far north.
Travelling around Pakistan’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Pakistan tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Pakistan's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Pakistan public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Pakistan have?
Pakistan has 16 public holidays in 2025, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2025 list?
The complete 2025 calendar for Pakistan is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Pakistan's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Pakistan typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Pakistan?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Pakistan?
Calendars are published for 2025.
School holidays in Pakistan
School term dates in Pakistan
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.