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, Pakistan Day, Independence Day, and Quaid-e-Azam Day are celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar.
Non-religious state holidays
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 February | Kashmir Solidarity Day | یوم یکجحتی کشمیر
Yōum-e-Yakjehtī Kashmīr |
Observed to show Pakistan's support and unity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. |
| 23 March | Pakistan Day | یوم پاکستان
Yōum-e-Pākistān |
Commemorates 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 May | Labour Day | یوم مزدور
Yōum-e-Mazdoor |
Celebrates the achievements of Labour. |
| 14 August | Independence Day | یومِ آزادی
Yōum-e-Azādī |
Marking Pakistani independence and the formation of Pakistan in 1947. |
| 9 November | Iqbal Day | یومِ اقبال
Yōum-e-Iqbāl |
Birthday of Muhammad Iqbal, national poet of Pakistan. |
| 25 December | Quaid-e-Azam Day | یوم قائداعظم
Yōum-e-Quaid-e-Āzam |
Birthday of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan. |
Islamic Religious state holidays
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhu al-Hijjah 10th | Eid-ul-Adha | عید الاضحٰی | Marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage; sacrifices offered on this day commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son |
| Shawwal 1st | Eid-ul-Fitr | عيد الفطر | Marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan |
| Rabiʽ al-Awwal 12th | Eid Milad-un-Nabi | میلاد النبی | Birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad |
| Muharram 9th & 10th | Ashura | عاشوراء/یوم کربلا | Karbala 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.
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | نئے سال کا دن Nayē Sāl kā Din |
Commemorates the first day of the Gregorian calendar |
| Rajab 27th (27 January) | Isra' and Mi'raj | شب معراج Shab-e-Merāj |
Observes the night journey of Prophet Muhammad to Al-Aqsa and the heaven |
| Magha 5th (2 February) | Basant Panchami | بسنت پنچمی Basant Panchamī |
Marks the start of spring and also honours the Hindu goddess Saraswati |
| Shaban 14th–15th (13–14 February) | Shab-e-Barat | شب برات Shab-e-Barāt |
Night of forgiveness for the Sunnis |
| Phalguna 14th (26 February) | Maha Shivaratri | مہا شیوراتری Mahāshivarātri |
Honours the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati |
| First full moon of Phalguna (14 March) | Holi | ہولی Holī |
Celebrates the love between the Hindu deities Radha and Krishna |
| Farvardin 1st (20 March) | Nowruz | نوروز Naurōz |
Persian New Year |
| Farvardin 7th (26 March) | Khordad Sal | خرداد سال Khordād Sāl |
Commemorates the birthday of Zarathushtra Spitama in Zoroastrianism |
| Vaisakh 1st (14 April) | Vaisakhi | ویساکھی Vaisākhī |
Celebrates the spring harvest in Punjab |
| 18 April | Good Friday | شام کلوری Shām-e-Calvary |
Observes the crucifixion of Jesus in Christianity |
| 20 April | Easter | عیدالفصح Eīd-ul-Fisah |
Commemorates the resurrection of Jesus in Christianity |
| Jalál 13th (20 April) | Ridván | عید رضوان Eīd-e-Rizwān |
Commemorates Baháʼu'lláh's declaration as a Manifestation of God in Baháʼí Faith |
| First full moon of Vaisakha (5 May) | Buddha's Birthday | بدھ کا جنم دن Buddhā kā Janam Din |
Commemorates the birthday of Siddhartha Gautama |
| 28 May | Nuclear Day | یوم تکبیر
Yōum-e-Takbīr |
Commemorates the Chagai-I and Chagai-II series of nuclear tests. |
| Safar 20th (15 August) | Arba'in | چہلم Chehlum |
Marks forty days after Ashura |
| Bhadra 8th (16 August) | Krishna Janmashtami | کرشنا جنم اشٹمی Krishnā Janmashṭamī |
Commemorates the birthday of Hindu diety Krishna |
| Rabi' al-Thani 11th (4 September) | Gyarvi Sharif | گیاروی شریف Gyārvī Sharīf |
Commemorates 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 Puja | درگا پوجا Durgā Pūjā |
Celebrated because of Hindu diety Durga's victory over Mahishasura |
| Ashvina 10th (2 October) | Vijayadashami | دسہرہ Dussehra |
Marks the end of Durga Puja |
| Ashvina 14th (6 October) | Diwali | دیوالی Dīwālī |
Symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance" in Hinduism |
| Ashvina 15th (7 October) | Guru Valmiki's Birthday | گرو والمیکی کا جنم دن Gūrū Vālmikī kā Janam Din |
Commemorates the birthday of the legendary poet Valmiki |
| First full moon of Kattak (5 November) | Guru Nanak Gurpurab | گرو نانک گروپورب Gūrū Nānak Gurpūrab |
Commemorates the birthday of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak |
References
- "Photos: Countries worldwide mark Labour Day". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
External Links
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