The Federal Government of Pakistan Cabinet Division has produced a comprehensive list of all public and optional holidays that will be celebrated in Pakistan in 2023. According to the official announcement posted on the Cabinet Division’s website www.cabinet.gov.pk, there will be a total of 16 public holidays in 2023.
On the occasion of Kashmir Day, the first public holiday of 2023 will be held on February 5, 2023. There will be extended weekends in 2023 since numerous public holidays fall on Friday and Saturday. Employees and students will have extended weekends due to Friday and Saturday.
Sr. |
Name of Occasion |
Days |
Dates during year
|
| 1 | Kashmir Day | Sunday | 5th February 2023 |
| 2 | Pakistan Day | Thursday | 23rd March 2023 |
| 3* | Eid-ul-Fitr,(1st Shawal 1444 AH) | Saturday, Sunday, Monday |
22, 23, 24 April 2023 |
| 4 | Labour Day | Monday | 1St May 2023 |
| 5* | Eid-ul-Azha, (10th Zil Haj 1444 AH) | Thursday, Friday, Saturday |
29, 30 June 2023 and 1st July 2023 |
| 6* | Ashura (9th & 10th Moharram 1445 A.H.) | Thursday & Friday | 27th and 28th July 2023 |
| 7 | Independence Day | Monday | 14th August 2023 |
| 8* | Eid Milad-un-Nabi (12th Rabi-ul- Awwal 1445 A.H) | Thursday | 28th September 2023 |
| 9 | Allama Iqbal Day | Thursday | 9th November 2023 |
| 10 | Quaid-e-Azam Day/ Christmas | Monday | 25th December 2023 |
| 11 | Day after Christmas | Tuesday | 26th December 2023 (For Christians only) |
The following dates all represent holidays observed by banks.
On the other hand, on certain days, banks, DFIs, and MFBs will be closed to the general public but will NOT be closed to their worker
| Sr.# | Day/ Date |
| 1 | 2nd January 2023 (Monday) |
| 2* | 22nd March, 2023 (Wednesday) corresponding to 1st Ramazan 1444 A.H. for deduction of Zakat(subject to appearance of moon) |
| 3 | 3rd July 2023 (Monday) |
What is optional holidays?
No government personnel shall be awarded more than one optional holiday in the case of Muslims and three optional holidays for Non-Muslims in a calendar year.
Government employees who want to take advantage of optional holidays are required to get prior approval from the Head of Office concerned.
It is not expected that the granting of this concession would result in any work being relocated. In the case of Muslim optional holidays, the number of people who are entitled to take advantage of optional holidays should be limited in such a way that enough personnel is always available to ensure that work is carried out in an appropriate manner at all times.
The denominational holidays are voluntary, and they may be granted at the discretion of the Head of Office so long as work is not negatively affected by their taking place.
Sr.# |
Name of Occasion |
Days |
Dates during year 2023 |
| 1 | New Year Day | Sunday | 1st January 2023 |
| 2 | Basant Punchami | Thursday | 26th January, 2023 |
| 3 | Shivaratri | Saturday | 18th February 2023 |
| 4* | Shab-e-Meraj (27’h Rajab 1444 A.H) | Saturday | 18th February 2023 |
| 5 | Holi | Monday | 6th March 2023 |
| 6 | Dulhandi | Tuesday | 7th March 2023 |
| 7* | Shab-e-Barat (15th Shaban 1444 A.H) | Wednesday | 8th March, 2023 |
| 8 | Good Friday | Friday | 7th April, 2023 |
| 9 | Day After Easter Sunday | Monday | 10th April, 2023 |
| 10 | Baisakhi | Friday | 14th April, 2023 |
| 11 | Eid-e-Rizwan (Bahai’s Community only) | Friday | 21st April 2023 |
| 12 | Buddha Purnima | Friday | 7th July, 2023 |
| 13 | Nauroze (Parsi’s New Year’s Day) | Wednesday | 16th August 2023 |
| 14 | Birthday of Lord Zoroaster (Khordad Sal) | Monday | 21st August 2023 |
| 15* | Chehlum (20’h Safar 1445 AH) | Wednesday | 6th September 2023 |
| 16 | Janam Ashtami | Thursday | 7th September 2023 |
| 17 | Durga Puja | Monday | 23rd October 2023 |
| 18 | Dussehra | Tuesday | 24th October 2023 |
| 19* | Giyarvee Shareef (11th Rabi- us-Sani 1445 A.H) | Friday | 27th October 2023 |
| 20 | Birthday of Guru Valmik Sawami Ji | Saturday | 28th October 2023 |
| 21 | Diwali | Sunday | 12th November 2023 |
| 22 | Guru Nanak Dev Jee Birthday | Monday | 27th November 2023 |