Public and Optional Holidays In Pakistan

The Ministry Of Interior Has Issued The Notification For The Public And Optional Holidays Of The Year 2023.

Islamabad: The Federal Government of Pakistan has issued a circular about public and optional holidays for the year 2023. The good news for this year is that no public holiday will be on Sunday except Kashmir Day.

In 2023, the Kashmir Day 05 February will be on Sunday. The first public holiday of 2023 will be on 23 March (Resolution Day) and Thursday will be the day of the week.

Eid al-Adha shall be celebrated from 29 to 30 June. It falls from Thursday to Friday (subject to the appearance of the Moon). In 2023, this important festival will be celebrated on 29 to 30 June 2023.

Muslim government employees will not get more than one optional holiday in a year. Non-Muslim government employees will not get more than 3 optional holidays in a year. In the announcement issued by the Cabinet Division, it is stated that in the year 2023, there will be 38 public holidays and optional holidays.

Out of the 38 holidays, there will be 16 general holidays and 22 optional holidays.
5th February 2023 will be Kamsheer Day, 23rd March 2023 Pakistan Day, and 1st May 2023 Labor Day will be a general holiday. In addition, there will be three holidays of Eid-ul-Tafr, the 29th and 30th and the 1st of July 2023. There will be three holidays. 14th August 2023 will be Independence Day, 28th September 2023 will be Eid Milad-ul-Nabi (PBUH), while 9th November 2023 will be Iqbal Day, 25th December 2023 will be Quaid-e-Azam Day and 26th December will be Christmas. 2023 will be the post-Christmas public holiday for Christian employees.

Notification of Public and Optional Holidays In 2023 issued by Cabinet Division, Pakistan on 23rd December 2022.

Public and Optional Holidays In 2023 Cabinet Division Notification

Detail of the public holiday of the year 2023 in Pakistan notified by the Federal Government is given below in table form.

Public Holiday In The Year 2023

Day	Date	Occasion
Sunday	05 February	Kashmir Day
Thursday	23 March	Pakistan Day
Sunday	09 April	Easter *
Saturday	22 April	Eid ul Fitr *
Sunday	23 April	Eid ul Fitr *
Monday	24 April	Eid ul Fitr *
Monday	01 May	Labour Day
Thursday	29 June	Eid ul Adha *
Friday	30 June	Eid ul Azha *
Thursday	27 July	09 Muharram (Ashura 1445) *
Friday	28 July	10 Muharram (Ashura 1445) *
Monday	14 August	Independence Day
Wednesday	27 September	Milad ul Nabi *
Monday	25 December	Quad I Azam Day & Christmas
Tuesday	26 December	Christmas

* Subject to the appearance of the Moon

First Ramadan (Roza) is expected on Friday, 24 March 2023.

Bank Holidays

The following will be Bank Holidays. However, on these days the Banks/DFIs/MFBs will remain closed to the public but not to their employees.

Day	Date	Occasion
Monday	02 January	Bank Holiday
Friday	24 March*	Bank Holiday
Monday	03 July	Bank Holiday
Monday	01 January 2024	Bank Holiday

* First Ramzan Subject to the appearance of the Moon.

First Ramadan In 2023 In Pakistan.

The exact date of the start of Ramadan is not fixed, because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle. However, according to the lunar calendar, the expected date of the “First Ramadan” is Friday, March 24, 2023, in Pakistan. Ramadan is a very important month in the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims around the world as a time of fasting, prayer, and reflection. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
The first Ramadan is an important time for Muslims in Pakistan and around the world, as it is a time to focus on their faith, purify their bodies and minds, and come together with their communities to celebrate and practice their religion.
In Pakistan, Ramadan is a time of intense devotion and spiritual renewal for many Muslims. It is a time when people come together to pray.
The majority of families and communities come together to break the fast at sunset each day. Ramadan is also an important time for businesses and organizations in Pakistan, as many people choose to make Zakat and Sadqas or engage in other acts of charity during this month
During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat food and drink from sunrise to sunset. In this way, Muslims physically and spiritually purify themselves. It is also a time for increased devotion and reflection, and many Muslims participate in additional prayers and read the Quran more frequently during this time.

On the first Ramdhan, banks deduct Zakat.

Eid al-Fitr In 2023 In Pakistan

Eid-ul-Fitr will be on 22 and 23 April 2023 (subject to the appearance of the Moon) in Pakistan. On 22 April 2023, the day will be Saturday.

Eid al-Fitr is a holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. It is a time of celebration and feasting and is an important holiday in the Islamic calendar.
During Eid al-Fitr, Muslims typically attend special prayers at open places and mosques. They exchange gifts and greetings with friends and family and participate in other festive activities. It is also a time for giving Fitrana to poor needy Muslims, and many Muslims make charitable donations during this holiday.
Eid al-Fitr is an opportunity for Muslims to come together and give thanks for the blessings they have received over the past month, and to celebrate the end of the period of fasting and reflection. It is a time of joy and celebration and is an important part of the Islamic faith.
It is also a time for forgiveness and reconciliation, and many Muslims reach out to those with whom they may have had misunderstandings or conflicts in order to ask for and offer forgiveness.
In many Islamic countries including Pakistan, Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday. In non-muslim countries, Muslims may take time off from work and school to celebrate with their families and communities. It is an important time of year for Muslims around the world and is often marked with a sense of joy and festivity.

Eid al-Adha In 2023 In Pakistan

Eid al-Adha, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is a major Muslim holiday that is celebrated annually on the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. In 2023, Eid al-Adha is expected to be observed on Thursday, 29 June 2023 in Pakistan.
The holiday commemorates the willingness of the prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to Allah. According to Islamic tradition, God ultimately provided a lamb to sacrifice instead of Ishmael, and Eid al-Adha honours this event as a symbol of Abraham’s devotion and submission to God’s will.
Eid al-Adha is a time of great significance for Muslims, as it is an opportunity to demonstrate their own devotion to Allah through acts of sacrifice and charitable giving. Many Muslims mark the holiday by performing the Hajj, a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, while others celebrate by sharing meals with friends and family, giving gifts to the poor, and participating in other acts of charity.
In Pakistan, Eid al-Adha is typically celebrated with large gatherings of family and friends, special prayers at mosques, and the slaughter of animals as a symbolic gesture of sacrifice. The meat from the slaughtered animals is then shared with the poor and distributed to neighbours and friends. The holiday is also a time for people to exchange gifts and well-wishes with one another.

Ashura 9th and 10th Muharram In 2023 In Pakistan

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and is considered one of the most sacred months in the Islamic year. It is a time of reflection and mourning for Muslims, as it marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala, in which the grandson (Nawasa) of the Prophet Muhammad, Imam Hussein, was martyred.

Ashura 10th Muharram is expected on Friday 28th July 2023 in Pakistan.

In Pakistan, the 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, is a particularly significant day of mourning and commemorations. Many Muslims observe Ashura by fasting, performing acts of charity, and participating in special prayers and ceremonies. Many people also participate in processions and parades, often carrying banners and flags with religious inscriptions.
The significance of Muharram and Ashura varies among different Islamic sects and communities. Some believe that observing the day can bring blessings and forgiveness, while others see it as a time to remember the sacrifices made by Imam Hussein and his followers and to stand up for justice and righteousness.
It is important to note that the observance of Muharram and Ashura is a personal choice for each individual Muslim, and there is no requirement to observe these days in any particular way. The way in which Muharram and Ashura are observed can vary significantly from one community to another, and from one individual to another.

On December 26, one day after Christmas, there was a holiday for the Christian community only.

Notification of Public and Optional Holidays In 2022 issued by Cabinet Division, Pakistan on 17 December 2021.
Public and Optional Holidays 2022 Notification in Pakistan For Federal Government Employees Page I F.No. 10-1/2021-Min-II 17th December, 2021