Public holidays in Pakistan explained

Pakistan holidays are celebrated according to the Islamic or local Pakistani calendars for religious and civil purposes, respectively. Religious holidays such as Eid are celebrated according to the Islamic calendar whereas other national holidays such as Labour Day,[1] Pakistan Day, and Quaid-e-Azam Day are celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar.

Non-religious state holidays

DateEnglish NameLocal NameNotes
5 FebruaryYōum-e-Yakjehtī KashmīrObserved to show Pakistan's support and unity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
23 MarchPakistan Day Yōum-e-PākistānCommemorates the Lahore Resolution, which formally demanded an independent Muslim-majority state to be created out of British India. The republic was also declared on this day in 1956.
1 MayLabour DayYōum-e-MazdoorCelebrates the achievements of Labour.
14 AugustIndependence DayYōum-e-AzādīMarking Pakistani independence and the formation of Pakistan in 1947.
9 NovemberYōum-e-IqbālBirthday of Muhammad Iqbal, national poet of Pakistan.
25 DecemberYōum-e-Quaid-e-ĀzamBirthday of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan.

Religious state holidays

DateEnglish NameLocal NameNotes
Dhu al-Hijjah 10thEid-ul-AdhaMarks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage; sacrifices offered on this day commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son
Shawwal 1stEid-ul-FitrMarks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan
Rabiʽ al-Awwal 12thEid Milad-un-NabiBirthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
Muharram 9th & 10thAshuraKarbala Day for Shias to the mourn for the martyred Imam Hussein ibn Ali, Grandson of Muhammad

Optional holidays

The Gregorian dates are according to the year 2025.

DateEnglish NameLocal NameNotes
1 JanuaryNew Year's DayCommemorates the first day of the Gregorian calendar
Rajab 27th (27 January)Isra' and Mi'rajObserves the night journey of Prophet Muhammad to Al-Aqsa and the heaven
Magha 5th (2 February)Basant PanchamiMarks the start of spring and also honours the Hindu goddess Saraswati
Shaban 14th–15th (13–14 February)Shab-e-BaratNight of forgiveness for the Sunnis
Phalguna 14th (26 February)Maha ShivaratriHonours the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati
First full moon of Phalguna (14 March)HoliCelebrates the love between the Hindu deities Radha and Krishna
Farvardin 1st (20 March)NowruzPersian New Year
Farvardin 7th (26 March)Khordad SalCommemorates the birthday of Zarathushtra Spitama in Zoroastrianism
Vaisakh 1st (14 April)VaisakhiCelebrates the spring harvest in Punjab
18 AprilGood FridayObserves the crucifixion of Jesus in Christianity
20 AprilEasterCommemorates the resurrection of Jesus in Christianity
Jalál 13th (20 April)RidvánCommemorates Baháʼu'lláh's declaration as a Manifestation of God in Baháʼí Faith
First full moon of Vaisakha (5 May)Buddha's BirthdayCommemorates the birthday of Siddhartha Gautama
28 MayNuclear DayYōum-e-TakbīrCommemorates the Chagai-I and Chagai-II series of nuclear tests.
Safar 20th (15 August)Arba'inMarks forty days after Ashura
Bhadra 8th (16 August)Krishna JanmashtamiCommemorates the birthday of Hindu diety Krishna
Rabi' al-Thani 11th (4 September)Gyarvi SharifCommemorates the gratuity and generosity of the Sufi scholar Abdul Qadir Gilani on the 11th of every month
Ashvina 6th–10th (28 September–2 October)Durga PujaCelebrated because of Hindu diety Durga's victory over Mahishasura
Ashvina 10th (2 October)VijayadashamiMarks the end of Durga Puja
Ashvina 14th (6 October)DiwaliSymbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance" in Hinduism
Ashvina 15th (7 October)Guru Valmiki's BirthdayCommemorates the birthday of the legendary poet Valmiki
First full moon of Kattak (5 November)Guru Nanak GurpurabCommemorates the birthday of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak

References

External Links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Photos: Countries worldwide mark Labour Day . 2022-09-30 . www.aljazeera.com . en.