Public Holidays in Pakistan 2023 [Complete List]

The federal government released a complete list of Pakistan’s public holidays for 2023, including a list of optional holidays. The Cabinet Division has issued the notification for Pakistan’s public holidays for 2023, which is attach below.

A total of eleven [11] public holidays will be observe in Pakistan year 2023, starting on February 5, 2023, for Kashmir Day and ending on December 25, 2023. For Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas, according to the notification from the government.

For Christians exclusively, there is an additional holiday on December 26, 2023 (the day after Christmas). A complete list of all Pakistani public holidays for 2023, together with their descriptions, can be found below.

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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: (*) For Muslim holidays, the dates are based on the moon’s appearance. For which the government will send out special announcements. This is true for the 2023 Eid ul Azha, 2023 Eid ul Fitr, 2023 Ashura (9th and 10th Muharram), and 2023 Eid ul Milad un Nabi holidays.

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 observe 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

Additionally, only government employees have been announce for these alternative holidays. An employee is only permitte to take one optional holiday if they are Muslims and three if they are not.

“The awarding of this concession shouldn’t cause any work disruptions. Regarding optional Muslim holidays, the number of people allowed to take them should be limite. To ensure there is enough staff to go on with the work properly. The Head of Office may approve the optional holidays if there is no disruption to work; they are denominational. Examine the alert.

The announcement further state, “A Government Servant should not ordinarily be denied an Optional Holiday. That is of religious significance and the denial is likely to reduce the number of such holidays to which he/she is entitled.”