The new year 2018 is just around the corner and after enjoying the long weekend for Quaid’s Day on the 25th of December, we surely did wonder when the next public holiday is due.
Public holidays in Pakistan are a pure source of joy for everyone. Holidays are observed as per the Islamic calendar for religious purposes and the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes. The longest holidays of the year are the ones designated to Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.
Religious festivals like Eid are celebrated according to the Islamic calendar whereas other national holidays like Kashmir Day, international labor day, Pakistan day and Quaid-i-Azam Day are celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar.
Here’s the complete list of Public Holidays for the year 2018!
| Date | Weekday | Holiday Name | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Monday | New Year’s Day | Optional Holiday |
| Feb 5 | Monday | Kashmir Day | Public Holiday |
| Feb 13 | Tuesday | Shivaratri | Optional Holiday |
| Feb 14 | Wednesday | Maha Shivaratri | Hindu Holiday |
| Mar 2 | Friday | Holi | National holiday, Hinduism |
| Mar 2 | Friday | Dulhandi | Optional Holiday |
| Mar 20 | Tuesday | March equinox | Season |
| Mar 23 | Friday | Pakistan Day | Public Holiday |
| Mar 30 | Friday | Good Friday | Christian, Common Local holidays |
| Apr 1 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Observance |
| Apr 2 | Monday | Easter Monday | National holiday, Christian |
| Apr 13 | Friday | Shab e-Meraj | Optional Holiday |
| Apr 14 | Saturday | Baisakhi | Observance |
| Apr 21 | Saturday | Eid e-Rizwan | Optional Holiday |
| Apr 24 | Tuesday | Shab e-Barat | Optional Holiday |
| Apr 29 | Sunday | Buddha Purnima | Optional Holiday |
| May 1 | Tuesday | Labour Day | Public Holiday |
| Jun 15 | Friday | Eid-ul-Fitr Day 1 | Public Holiday |
| Jun 16 | Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr Day 2 | Public Holiday |
| Jun 17 | Sunday | Eid-ul-Fitr Day 3 | Public Holiday |
| Jun 18 | Monday | Eid-ul-Fitr Day 4 | Public Holiday |
| Jun 21 | Thursday | June Solstice | Season |
| Jul 1 | Sunday | July 1 Bank Holiday | Bank Holiday |
| Aug 14 | Tuesday | Independence Day | Public Holiday |
| Aug 22 | Wednesday | Eid-ul-Azha Day 1 | Public Holiday |
| Aug 22 | Wednesday | Birthday of Lord Zoroaster (Khordad Sal) | Optional Holiday |
| Aug 23 | Thursday | Eid-ul-Azha Day 2 | Public Holiday |
| Aug 24 | Friday | Eid-ul-Azha Day 3 | Public Holiday |
| Aug 25 | Saturday | Eid-ul-Azha Day 4 | Public Holiday |
| Aug 26 | Sunday | Raksha Bandhan | Hindu Holiday |
| Sep 2 | Sunday | Janmashtami | Hindu Holiday |
| Sep 2 | Sunday | Janam Ashtami | Optional Holiday |
| Sep 6 | Thursday | Defence Day | Observance |
| Sep 13 | Thursday | Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu Holiday |
| Sep 20 | Thursday | First Day of Ashura | Public Holiday |
| Sep 21 | Friday | Second Day of Ashura | Public Holiday |
| Sep 23 | Sunday | September equinox | Season |
| Oct 10 | Wednesday | Navaratri | Hindu Holiday |
| Oct 15 | Monday | Durga Pooja | Optional Holiday |
| Oct 19 | Friday | Dussehra | Hindu Holiday |
| Oct 19 | Friday | Dussehra | Optional Holiday |
| Oct 24 | Wednesday | Birthday of Guru Balmik Sawami Ji | Optional Holiday |
| Oct 31 | Wednesday | Chelum | Optional Holiday |
| Nov 7 | Wednesday | Diwali/Deepavali | Optional Holiday |
| Nov 7 | Wednesday | Diwali/Deepavali | Observance, Hinduism |
| Nov 9 | Friday | Iqbal Day | Public Holiday |
| Nov 9 | Friday | Iqbal Day | Optional Holiday |
| Dec 21 | Friday | December Solstice | Season |
| Dec 24 | Monday | Christmas Eve | Observance |
| Dec 25 | Tuesday | Christmas Day | Public Holiday |
| Dec 25 | Tuesday | Quaid-e-Azam Day | Public Holiday |
| Dec 26 | Wednesday | Day After Christmas | Observed by Christians |
