Pakistan Holiday Overview

This article introduces Pakistan's public holidays, special holidays, and whether shipping companies, airlines, freight forwarding companies, railways, express delivery, and logistics companies are open during these holidays.

Public holidays in Pakistan are divided into two categories: religious holidays and national holidays prescribed by the government.

Religious holidays (according to Islamic calendar dates):
·Islamic New Year's Day: The first day of the Islamic calendar is an important festival for Muslims. People will wear new clothes, visit each other, give gifts, and hold various religious activities.
·Prophet Muhammad's Birthday: A festival commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad. On this day, Muslims will hold various religious activities, such as chanting, praying, etc.
·Eid al-Fitr: A festival celebrated by Muslims after the end of the month-long Ramadan. On this day, people will hold various celebrations, such as dinners, exchanging gifts, etc.
·Eid al-Adha: A festival established by Muslims to commemorate the story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ishmael (Ismail).

National holidays prescribed by the government (according to the Gregorian calendar date):
·National Day (March 23): The day when Pakistan broke away from British colonial rule and established an independent country.
·Labor Day (May 1): International Labor Day, a common holiday for working people all over the world.
·Independence Day (August 14): Pakistan gained independence from British colonial rule.
·Defense Day (September 6): Pakistan’s victory in the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.
·Iqbal’s Birthday (November 9): Pakistan’s national poet and philosopher Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birthday.
· Jinnah’s Birthday (December 25): Pakistan’s founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birthday.

During religious festivals in Pakistan, many companies will be affected and will not operate, while during national holidays stipulated by the government, they will usually operate normally.

Special holidays in Pakistan:

·Ur Festival: It is an important festival of the Sufi sect of Islam, held in the third month of the Islamic calendar (the holy month of Rabi) every year. During Ur Festival, people will hold various religious activities, such as chanting, praying, pilgrimage, etc.

·Nowruz: It is the New Year of Iranians and Persians, held on the vernal equinox every year. During Nowruz, people will celebrate the arrival of spring and hold various celebrations, such as exchanging gifts and fire dancing.

·Defense Day: It is a festival established by Karachi to commemorate the heroic deeds of the Pakistani army in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. On Defense Day, Karachi will hold various commemorative activities, such as military parades and cultural performances.

·Jinnah's Birthday: It is a festival established by Quetta to commemorate the birth of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan. On Jinnah's birthday, Quetta will hold various commemorative activities, such as seminars and flower-laying ceremonies.

·Wasir Festival: It is a traditional festival of the Pashtun people, held in the eleventh month of the Pashtun calendar (Wasir month) every year. During Wasir Festival, the Pashtun people will hold various celebrations, such as horse racing, wrestling, singing and dancing performances, etc.

·Chaur Festival: It is a traditional festival of the Baloch people, held in the tenth month of the Baloch calendar (Chaur month) every year. During Chaur Festival, the Baloch people will hold various celebrations, such as camel racing, bullfighting, singing and dancing performances, etc.