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
The dates below come from Pakistan’s published calendar for 2025. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Wed | 2025 |
| Shab e-Meraj | Jan 28Tue | 2025 |
| Basant Panchami | Feb 2Sun | 2025 |
| Kashmir Day | Feb 5Wed | 2025 |
| Shab e-Barat | Feb 14Fri | 2025 |
| Shivaratri | Feb 26Wed | 2025 |
| Ramadan Start | Mar 1Sat | 2025 |
| Holi | Mar 13Thu | 2025 |
| Dulhandi | Mar 14Fri | 2025 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Thu | 2025 |
| Pakistan Day | Mar 23Sun | 2025 |
| Eid-ul-Fitr | Mar 30Sun | 2025 |
Showing 12 of 51 dates recorded 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
-
🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
-
🎉
Shab e-Meraj
Falls on Jan 28
-
🎉
Basant Panchami
Falls on Feb 2
-
🎉
Kashmir Day
Falls on Feb 5
-
🎉
Shab e-Barat
Falls on Feb 14
-
🎉
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 51 dates recorded on its 2025 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
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.