The Federal Government has announced a complete list of Public Holidays in Pakistan for 2023, including a list of Optional Holidays. The notification regarding the Public Holidays in Pakistan for 2023 has been issued by the Cabinet Division and attached in this post below.
According to the notification, the Government has announced a total of eleven [11] Public Holidays in Pakistan for 2023 starting 5th February 2023 for Kashmir Day with a last holiday of the year being observed towards the end of the year on 25th December 2023 for Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas.
However, there is an additional holiday on 26th December 2023 (Day after Christmas) for Christians only. Below we have compiled a complete list of of all the Public Holidays in Pakistan for 2023 with their details.
Public Holidays in Pakistan 2023
Name of occasion | Days | Dates |
---|---|---|
Kashmir Day | Sunday | 5 February 2023 |
Pakistan Day | Thursday | 23 March 2023 |
Eid-ul-Fitr | Saturday, Sunday, Monday | 22 ,23, 24 April 2023 |
Labour Day | Monday | 1 May 2023 |
Eid-ul-Azha | Thursday, Friday, Saturday | 29, 30 June 2023 & 1 July 2023 |
Ashura (9th, 10 Muharram) | Thursday, Friday | 27, 28 July 2023 |
Independence Day | Monday | 14 August 2023 |
Eid-Milad-un-Nabi | Thursday | 28 September 2023 |
Allama Iqbal Day | Thursday | 9 November 2023 |
Quaid-e-Azam Day/Christmas | Monday | 25 December 2023 |
Day after Christmas | Tuesday | 26 December 2023 (Christians Only) |
NOTE: (*) In case of Muslim Festivals, the dates are subject to the appearance of moon for which the government will issue separate notifications. This applies for the Eid ul Azha Holidays in 2023, Eid-ul-Fitr Holidays in 2023, Ashura (9th and 10th Muharram) Holiday in 2023, and Eid Milad un Nabi Holiday in 2023.
Bank Holidays 2023
- 1 January 2023 – Monday
- 22 March 2023 – Wednesday (Corresponding to 1st Ramadan and subject to appearance of moon)
- 3 July 2023 – Monday
This was a list of all bank holidays to be observed during 2023. However, it is pertinent to mention that on these mentioned dates, the banks / DFIs / MFBs will remain closed for public only but employees will fulfill their duties normally.
Optional Holidays 2023
Occasion | Days | Date |
---|---|---|
New Year Day | Sunday | 1 January 2023 |
Basant Panchami | Thursday | 26 January 2023 |
Shiv Ratri | Saturday | 18 February 2023 |
Shab-e-Mairaj | Saturday | 18 February 2023 |
Holi | Monday | 6 March 2023 |
Dulhandi | Tuesday | 7 March 2023 |
Shab-e-Barat | Wednesday | 8 March 2023 |
Good Friday | Friday | 7 April 2023 |
Day After Easter | Monday | 10 April 2023 |
Baisakhi | Friday | 14 April 2023 |
Eid-e-Rizwan | Friday | 21 April 2023 |
Buddha Purnima | Friday | 7 July 2023 |
Nauroze | Wednesday | 16 August 2023 |
Birthday of Lord Zoroaster | Monday | 21 August 2023 |
Chehlum | Wednesday | 6 September 2023 |
Janam ashtami | Thursday | 7 September 2023 |
Durga Poja | Monday | 23 October 2023 |
Dussehra | Tuesday | 24 October 2023 |
Giyarhvi Shareef | Friday | 27 October 2023 |
Birthday of Guru Valmik Swami Ji | Saturday | 28 October 2023 |
Diwali | Sunday | 12 November 2023 |
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Birthday | Monday | 27 November 2023 |
Furthermore, these optional holidays have been announced for government employees only. However, an employee can only avail one optional holiday if they are Muslim and three if they are non-Muslim.
“The grant of this concession should not result in any dislocation of work. In the case of Muslim optional holidays, the number of persons permitted to avail optional holidays should be regulated in a manner so that adequate staff is available for proper continuance of the work. The optional holidays are denominational and may be allowed at the discretion of the Head of Office, provided that work does not suffer.” read the notification.
“A Government Servant should not ordinarily be refused an Optional Holiday that is of religious significance and the refusal is likely to decrease the number of such holidays to which he/she is entitled.” the notification added.
Here is a copy of the notification regarding Public Holidays in Pakistan for 2023:
Read more: Winter Vacations in Pakistan.