The Federal government has recently issued the complete list of all the public and optional holidays which will be observed throughout the country for the year 2023.
According to the official notification issued by the Cabinet Division, there will be a total of 16 public holidays in 2023, with the first being Kashmir Day which will be observed on 5 February.
With 5 holidays coming on Fridays or Mondays, there will be plenty of long weekends for the public to enjoy.
| Sr. No. | Name of Occasion | Day(s) | Date(s) |
| 1 | Kashmir Day | Sunday | 5 February |
| 2 | Pakistan Day | Thursday | 23 March |
| 3* | Eid-ul-Fitr | Saturday, Sunday, Monday | 22, 23, 24 April |
| 4* | Labour Day | Monday | 1 May |
| 5* | Eid-ul-Azha | Thursday, Friday, Saturday | 29, 30 June and 1 July |
| 6* | Ashura (9 and 10 Mohrram) | Thursday, Friday | 27, 28 July |
| 7 | Independence Day | Monday | 14 August |
| 8* | Eid Milad-un-Nabi | Thursday | 28 September |
| 9 | Allama Iqbal Day | Thursday | 9 November |
| 10 | Quaid-e-Azam Day/Christmas | Monday | 25 December |
| 11 | Day after Christmas (only for Christian community) | Tuesday | 26 December |
*Subject to sighting of the moon.
The following will be bank holidays. However, on these days, the banks, DFIs, MFBs will remain closed for the public but not for their employees.
| Sr. | Day | Date |
| 1 | Monday | 2 January |
| 2* | Wednesday | 22 March (corresponding to 1st Ramazan for deduction of Zakat) |
| 3 | Monday | 3 July |
*Subject to sighting of the moon.
On the other hand, there will be a total of 21 optional holidays. Let’s have a look at them.
| Sr. No. | Occasion | Day(s) | Date(s) |
| 1 | New Year Day | Sunday | 1 January |
| 2 | Basant Punchami | Thursday | 26 January |
| 3 | Shivaratri | Saturday | 18 February |
| 4* | Shab-e-Meraj | Saturday | 18 February |
| 5 | Holi | Monday | 6 March |
| 6 | Dulhandi | Tuesday | 7 March |
| 7* | Shab-e-Barat | Wednesday | 8 March |
| 8 | Good Friday | Friday | 7 April |
| 9 | Day after Easter Sunday | Monday | 10 April |
| 10 | Baisakhi | Friday | 14 April |
| 11 | Eid-e-Rizwan | Friday | 21 April |
| 12 | Buddha Purnima | Friday | 7 July |
| 13 | Nauroze | Wednesday | 16 August |
| 14 | Khordad Sal | Monday | 21 August |
| 15* | Chehlum | Wednesday | 6 September |
| 16 | Janam Ashtami | Thursday | 7 September |
| 17 | Durga Puja | Monday | 23 October |
| 18 | Dussehra | Tuesday | 24 October |
| 19* | Giyarvee Shareef | Friday | 27 October |
| 20 | Birthday of Guru Valmik Sawami Ji | Saturday | 28 October |
| 21 | Diwali | Sunday | 12 November |
| 22 | Birthday of Guru Nanak | Monday | 27 November |
*Subject to sighting of the moon.
Here is the official notification.
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Optional holidays should be mandatory. World with 5 days a week and 8 hours workday is more prosper than hours 8 to 12+ hours workday. We need smarter and intellectual leaders not jatt, bhati, khan, cheemay type of mentality.
1. Pakistan should observe only Friday Saturday week off with 8hrs working per day in all sectors (Private / Government). (5 working days X 2 rest days).
2. Office timings across Pakistan should be observed from 0700 hrs to 1530 hrs (with inclusion of lunch and zohar prayers timings). This will save day time and employee will have more time to join their families and get some rest during day times
3. 23rd March and 14th August should be the only two officially gazetted holidays to celebrate them across Pakistan.
4. There should be 10 official gazetted holidays in each Eid-Alfitre and Eid-Aladha across Pakistan. This will help many people to join their love ones and celebrate with them.
5. All other holidays than the above are to be eliminated. This will create a working environment with more energy.
Poor people it’s not holiday
He is first eating