Bank holidays in Pakistan 2026 follow the federal public holiday calendar, with banks closing on the country’s official holidays throughout the year. If you need to visit a branch, clear a cheque, or plan a transfer, knowing the schedule in advance saves you a wasted trip. Here is how the 2026 bank holiday calendar works and which dates matter most.
How Pakistan’s bank holidays are decided
In Pakistan, public holidays are announced by the federal government through the Cabinet Division, usually in a notification issued near the end of the previous year. Banks generally observe these public holidays, and the State Bank of Pakistan issues its own annual circular listing the days on which banks and financial institutions will remain closed. The two lists normally match, but the State Bank’s announcement is the authoritative one for banking — so when in doubt, confirm with your own bank’s published holiday schedule.
Religious holidays need special attention. The exact dates of Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha and Ashura depend on the sighting of the moon, and are confirmed by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee shortly before the event. Banks announce closures for these holidays once the dates are official, which means the schedule for those days is always provisional until confirmed.
Confirmed bank holidays in Pakistan for 2026
Based on the official 2026 calendar, banks in Pakistan close on these dates:
- Thursday 5 February — Kashmir Day
- Monday 23 March — Pakistan Day (also expected Eid-ul-Fitr holidays around 21–23 March, subject to moon sighting)
- Friday 1 May — Labour Day
- Thursday 28 May — Youm-e-Takbeer (Eid-ul-Azha holidays expected around 27–29 May, subject to moon sighting)
- Friday 14 August — Independence Day
- Monday 9 November — Iqbal Day
- Friday 25 December — Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas Day
Ashura (expected around 24–25 June) and Eid Milad-un-Nabi (expected around 25 August) are also typically observed, but their exact dates depend on the lunar calendar and official announcement. Treat any date you see for these as provisional until the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee confirms it.
What banking services work on holidays
When branches close for a bank holiday in Pakistan, digital banking keeps running. Mobile apps and internet banking let you check balances, transfer funds between accounts, and pay utility bills. ATMs generally dispense cash as normal, though machines in busy areas can run low during long Eid weekends, so withdrawing a day early is wise. Debit cards work in shops and online without interruption.
What pauses is back-office processing: interbank clearing, pay orders and demand drafts, and some corporate transactions wait for the next working day. If you have a payment that must clear by a deadline, initiate it at least one working day before the holiday.
Planning around long weekends
Several 2026 bank holidays create natural long weekends in Pakistan. Labour Day falls on a Friday (1 May), giving a three-day weekend. Independence Day on Friday 14 August does the same. Iqbal Day on Monday 9 November stretches the weekend to three days, as does Pakistan Day on Monday 23 March. Quaid-e-Azam Day on Friday 25 December closes out the year with another long weekend. Kashmir Day falls on a Thursday (5 February) — take Friday 6 February as leave and you have a four-day break. These are ideal windows for short trips or family visits, but book early: everyone else has the same idea.