Is today a public holiday in Pakistan?

Negotiable Instruments Act, Factories Act 1934 & SBP PRISM Rails

In the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, official public holidays are notified annually by the Ministry of Interior, with banking holidays codified under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. Pakistan observes approximately 11 nationwide statutory holidays per year, commemorating national milestones (such as Pakistan Day on 23 March and Independence Day on 14 August) and Islamic holy occasions.

Factories Act 1934: Section 49-I Festival Holidays

For industrial and commercial establishments, statutory holiday rights are governed under Section 49-I of the Factories Act, 1934 and provincial labor enactments. Under Section 49-I:

• Every worker is legally entitled to paid festival holidays with full daily wages for all days declared by the federal or provincial government.
• Where an employee is required to work on a festival holiday, the employer must provide an alternative compensatory holiday with full pay or pay the employee double wages for that day.

The 'No Rollover' Rule & Statutory Bank Closings

Under Pakistani administrative practice, public holidays falling on a weekend do not automatically transfer to the following Monday. If an official holiday coincides with a Sunday, the day off is absorbed by the weekend unless an ad hoc executive notification is published by the Ministry of Interior.

Furthermore, under the Negotiable Instruments Act, commercial banks observe two mandatory non-transactional public holidays: 1 January (Annual Bank Closing) and 1 July (Half-Yearly Bank Closing). Physical branch counters are closed for customer service, though electronic channels remain functional.

Banking Clearing Rails: SBP PRISM vs. Raast 24/7

Financial clearing infrastructure across Pakistan is operated by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP):

• Wholesale Rails (PRISM): The Pakistan Real-time Interbank Settlement Mechanism (PRISM) and NIFT electronic cheque clearing pause operations on notified public holidays and statutory bank closings. Calculate business turnaround timelines using our Working Days Calculator.
• Instant Retail Payments (Raast): Pakistan's national instant payment system, Raast, operates 24/7/365. Instant person-to-person (P2P) transfers via Raast ID and retail mobile banking execute in real time on all public holidays.

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX Trading Schedule)

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) halts equity, debt, and derivative trading sessions on all public holidays notified by the federal government and on SBP bank holidays (including 1 January and 1 July).

Pakistan Payment Rails, Exchange Cutoffs & Statutory Pay Matrix (2026–2027)

When a statutory public holiday or in-lieu bank holiday occurs in Pakistan, commercial banking counters, central bank real-time gross settlement (RTGS) rails, and retail instant payment systems follow distinct operational rules:

Key 2026 vs. 2027 Holiday Date Shifts & Bridge-Day Planning in Pakistan

Because fixed calendar holidays shift one weekday forward between 2026 and 2027 (and movable lunar or liturgical holidays shift by 10 to 15 days), HR teams, payroll processors, and employees in Pakistan should account for the following 2026–2027 date comparisons and leave-bridge opportunities: