List of public and optional holidays in Pakistan February 2026 New Schedule

The Cabinet Division of Pakistan has officially announced the list of public, bank, and optional holidays for February 2026. These holidays apply to government offices, banks, educational institutions, and selected communities across the country. The announcement helps citizens, businesses, and institutions plan their schedules in advance.

February 2026 includes one nationwide public holiday, one bank holiday, and two optional religious holidays. Some of these holidays are tentative, as they depend on the sighting of the moon by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

Below is a complete and easy-to-understand breakdown of all holidays announced for February 2026.

Holiday Type	Details
Month	February 2026
Public Holiday	5 February – Kashmir Solidarity Day
Bank Holiday	18 February – Zakat Deduction
Optional Holiday	4 February – Shab-e-Barat (Tentative)
Optional Holiday	16 February – Shivaratri
Applies To	Government offices, banks, institutions
Authority	Cabinet Division of Pakistan
Moon Sighting	Required for Islamic holidays

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Public Holiday on 5 February 2026 – Kashmir Solidarity Day

Thursday, 5 February 2026, will be observed as a nationwide public holiday in Pakistan on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day. This day is observed every year to express unity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and to honor the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs.

On this public holiday:

All federal and provincial government offices will remain closed
Schools, colleges, and universities will be closed
Most private offices observe the holiday
Special programs and events are held nationwide

Kashmir Solidarity Day is also marked by peaceful rallies, seminars, prayers, and media programs across the country.

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Bank Holiday on 18 February 2026 for Zakat Deduction

Wednesday, 18 February 2026, has been announced as a bank holiday for Zakat deduction. This holiday is tentative and depends on the sighting of the Ramadan moon.

Important points about this bank holiday include:

Banks will be closed for public dealings
Banks will remain open for employees
Zakat will be deducted from eligible bank accounts
Online banking and ATM services may continue

This holiday is observed every year before the start of Ramadan to facilitate the Zakat deduction process as per Islamic guidelines.

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Optional Holiday on 4 February 2026 – Shab-e-Barat

Shab-e-Barat is listed as an optional holiday on Wednesday, 4 February 2026. This holiday is also tentative and subject to moon sighting.

Key details about Shab-e-Barat:

It is an Islamic religious observance
Employees may avail it with prior approval
Only one optional holiday is allowed for Muslim employees in a year
The final date depends on moon sighting confirmation

Optional holidays are not mandatory closures and depend on organizational policies.

Optional Holiday on 16 February 2026 – Shivaratri

Monday, 16 February 2026, has been declared an optional holiday for the Hindu community on the occasion of Shivaratri.

Important points include:

It applies mainly to Hindu employees
Non-Muslim employees may avail up to three optional holidays per year
Offices remain open unless leave is approved
Observed with religious devotion by the Hindu community

This reflects Pakistan’s policy of accommodating religious diversity through optional holidays.

Rules for Optional Holidays in Pakistan

Optional holidays are governed by specific rules issued by the government. These holidays are not automatic and depend on organizational approval.

Key rules include:

Muslim employees can take one optional holiday per year
Non-Muslim employees can take up to three optional holidays
Approval is required from the head of the organization
Optional holidays do not mean office-wide closure

Employees are advised to apply in advance to avoid inconvenience.

Official Notification and Government Source

The holiday schedule for February 2026 is part of the Public and Optional Holidays List for 2026 issued by the Cabinet Division. Religious holidays marked as tentative depend on the decision of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

For official notifications and updates, visit:
👉 https://cabinet.gov.pk

Conclusion

February 2026 includes a mix of public, bank, and optional holidays in Pakistan. 5 February will be observed as a nationwide public holiday for Kashmir Solidarity Day. 18 February is a bank holiday for Zakat deduction, while 4 February (Shab-e-Barat) and 16 February (Shivaratri) are optional holidays. Tentative holidays depend on moon sighting, and optional holidays require prior approval. These announcements help citizens and organizations plan their activities smoothly.