The Punjab government has confirmed that all public holidays approved by the federal government will also apply across the province in 2026, according to an official notification.
Kashmir Day will be observed on February 5, followed by Pakistan Day on March 23. Public holidays for Eid al-Fitr will fall from March 21 to March 23. Youm-e-Takbeer will be marked as an official holiday on May 28.
Eid-ul-Adha holidays will run from May 27 to May 29. Ashura will be observed on June 24 and June 25. Independence Day will remain a nationwide holiday on August 14.
Eid Milad-un-Nabi will be observed on August 25. Allama Iqbal Day will fall on November 9. Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas will both be observed on December 25. The government has also declared December 26 as a holiday exclusively for Christian employees.
In addition, January 1 (New Year’s Day), February 18 (Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary), and July 1 (start of the financial year) will be observed as bank holidays.
An optional holiday list has also been issued for Punjab. Muslim government employees may avail one optional holiday per year, while non-Muslim employees may take up to three. Prior approval from the relevant department head will be mandatory.
District commissioners have been authorised to declare up to two local holidays within their districts. In Lahore, however, only the provincial government has the authority to declare local holidays.
