Preparations for the celebration of Eid ul Adha (festival of sacrifice) with traditional religious zeal are underway all over Pakistan after the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon. As usual this year, the budding employees and businesses have been keeping a keen watch for any official government call regarding the public holidays. The Federal Government and the Government of Sindh have issued two different notifications regarding allotment of days off for the year 2026 leading to confusion.
The following is a detailed guide that covers all points as provided by the federal government, province of Sindh and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to help you in planning out your holiday travel and sacrificial activities without any hassle.
Federal Government Notification for Eid ul Adha Holidays
Preparations for the celebration of Eid ul Adha (festival of sacrifice) with traditional religious zeal are underway all over Pakistan after the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon. As usual this year, the budding employees and businesses have been keeping a keen watch for any official government call regarding the public holidays. The Federal Government and the Government of Sindh have issued two different notifications regarding allotment of days off for the year 2026 leading to confusion.
The following is a detailed guide that covers all points as provided by the federal government, province of Sindh and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to help you in planning out your holiday travel and sacrificial activities without any hassle.
- Holiday Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Official Dates: May 26, May 27, and May 28, 2026.
According to this federal schedule, the third day of Eid—Friday, May 29, 2026—will be a regular working day. On Friday, all federal workers will be called back to their posts.
Government of Sindh Announces an Extended Holiday Schedule
Sindh’s Government, on the other hand, extended a festive vacation period for province-level employees by announcing a public holiday, which has been designated as four days. Sindh will officially become the third province to declare the third day of Eid as holiday, the notification released by the office of the Chief Secretary of the province said.
The Sindh Holiday Schedule Provides Information on the Holidays in Sindh 2026 for May 26 to May 29, 2026 (Tuesday to Friday).
The scope of closure is all provincial government offices, autonomous institutions, corporations and local councils of Karachi, Sindh’s main cities of Sukkur, Hyderabad and all others.
Exemptions: Essential services, such as the Health Department, Police, Rescue services and certain core personnel in Finance, responsible for the preparation of the Provincial budget, are not included in this cycle of holidays.
Provincial employees in Sindh will get an uninterrupted 6 days extended holiday break, along with the regular weekend (Saturday-Sunday).
State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Official Bank Closure Schedule
In the case of those who do need cash immediately or OTC banking and/or clearances for corporate businesses just before the festival of Eid, it is important for them to track the bank timings. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued the circular to all commercial banks, microfinance institutions and development financial institutions (DFIs).
As per notification of SBP all banks will be closed on the following dates:
| Date of Bank Closure | Day | Official Status |
| May 26, 2026 | Tuesday | Public Holiday (Eid Day 1) |
| May 27, 2026 | Wednesday | Public Holiday (Eid Day 2) |
| May 28, 2026 | Thursday | Public Holiday (Eid Day 3) |
Will Banks Open on Friday, May 29, in Karachi and Sindh?
Yes. Notably, although the government of Sindh has declared a provincial holiday to be observed on Friday the 29thth of May, all commercial financial institutions within Pakistan are subject to federal central bank oversight and regulations. Located in Karachi and all across Sindh, the banks will resume their public services on Friday, May 29, 2026, as on all other days of the year so far, State Bank of Pakistan has only declared the bank holidays till May 28, 2026.
Eid Schedule in Your City: At a Glance
Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta: All Federal/Provincial Offices will remain closed from 26th-28th May and will resume their normal operations on 29th May.
Provincial departments will be closed in Karachi and Interior Sindh for four days, from Tuesday, May 26 to Friday, May 29.
Private Sector & Factories: This will be conducted in such a way that corporate entities/factories seem to follow the 3 day frame outlined by the Federal government (26, 27 and 28 May).
All the commercial banks have been instructed by SBP to keep Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) open and have to ensure uninterrupted digital banking services and mobile apps operations at all the major cities due to increased shutdown time to prevent the public nuisance.
