Is 23 September a Public Holiday in Pakistan? — Full guide for readers (Updated: 19 September 2025)
There’s a lot of noise on social media and several websites claiming 23 September 2025 is a public holiday in Pakistan. Before you cancel plans or close your shop, read this — we checked official sources and top news outlets so you don’t get misled.
Short answer: There is no official, nationwide public holiday declared by the Government of Pakistan for 23 September 2025. Several fact-checks and government pages confirm this. The confusion comes from a separate announcement: Saudi Arabia has a public holiday on 23 September (its National Day) — and some headlines mixed the stories. (Pakistan Today)
Why people thought 23 September would be a holiday in Pakistan
Several Pakistani websites and social posts ran headlines that implied a nationwide holiday. Many of those posts were actually referring to Saudi National Day (23 September) and not a Pakistani government notification. Fact-checkers quickly flagged these stories as misleading. Always check the official notification (Cabinet Division) for confirmation. (Soch Fact Check)
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What official sources say (how we verified)
- Cabinet Division / Official notifications: The final word on public holidays comes from the Cabinet Division or a formal press notification published by the Government of Pakistan. At time of writing there is no Cabinet notification declaring 23 September 2025 a national holiday for Pakistan. Check the Cabinet Division site for official press releases. (Cabinet Secretariat Pakistan)
- Fact checks & national outlets: Pakistan Today and established fact-check sites have reported that claims of a Pakistan holiday on 23 September are incorrect, and that the news refers to Saudi Arabia’s National Day. (Pakistan Today)
- Saudi National Day: Saudi Arabia officially declares 23 September as its National Day and announced a public holiday there; this is the real reason many newsfeeds mentioned the date. If you have family or plans connected to Saudi Arabia, expect official events there on 23 September. (The Times of India)
What this means for you (students, workers, businesses)
- Schools & colleges: Unless your school/college issues a local notice, assume a regular academic day on 23 September. Boards and universities post updates on their own portals—check your institution’s official noticeboard.
- Government offices: Will remain open unless a Cabinet Division notification says otherwise. The government posts formal holiday notifications online and in national newspapers. (Cabinet Secretariat Pakistan)
- Banks & stock market: The State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks follow official holiday lists; they will announce any bank holiday separately. Do not assume banking closures without an SBP or bank circular.
- Private sector: Some private companies sometimes close on days of local significance or give staff leave by policy — check with your HR. Grocery stores, petrol pumps, and essential services may be open as usual.
- Overseas Pakistanis / travellers: If you or family are in Saudi Arabia, expect Saudi public holiday schedules and consular services to follow Riyadh’s announcements. For Pakistan-based events tied to Saudi National Day (community gatherings, consulate events), follow your local embassy/consulate page.
How to verify future holiday claims — quick checklist
- Check Cabinet Division / official government website (cabinet.gov.pk) for the formal notification. (Cabinet Secretariat Pakistan)
- Look for circulars from your employer, school or university. These are authoritative for local closures.
- State Bank of Pakistan (sbp.org.pk) posts bank holiday lists — consult before assuming banking closure.
- Follow trusted national outlets (Dawn, The News, Geo, ARY) and fact-check pages for corrections. Don’t rely on a forwarded post or a single social media screenshot. (Dawn)
Why this confusion keeps happening
- Shared dates: When two countries have notable dates close together (e.g., Saudi National Day and other events), headlines and social feeds sometimes blur the details.
- Clickbait & poor sourcing: Some websites republish short notices without checking the Cabinet notification.
- Viral social posts: A single screenshot or message can spread fast; people copy without verifying.
Recommended actions for readers (what to do today)
- If you planned to close your business or skip work for 23 September, confirm with your employer or local government office before acting.
- If you need to do banking or official paperwork, assume offices are open unless you see an official holiday notification.
- For travellers and overseas workers: check embassy / consulate social media for country-specific schedules (e.g., Saudi consulate if you have business in Saudi Arabia).
Useful links
- Official Cabinet Division (for formal holiday notifications): cabinet.gov.pk. (Cabinet Secretariat Pakistan)
- Pakistan Today fact-check: “Is there a public holiday on 23 September?” (explains the confusion). (Pakistan Today)
- Soch Fact Check (debunk/clarify): article on misleading 23 September holiday claims. (Soch Fact Check)
- Saudi National Day coverage (why 23 September is a holiday in Saudi Arabia): Times of India / regional press. (The Times of India)
(Internal link) For updates and alerts on national holidays, keep an eye on our Pakistan Holidays hub at TrustedPakistan.com — we’ll post any official notifications as soon as they are issued.
Final word
Misinformation about public holidays spreads fast. Today (19 September 2025), there is no official nationwide public holiday in Pakistan for 23 September. The date is, however, a public holiday in Saudi Arabia (National Day), which explains the many headlines. Always verify with a government notification before changing plans — and follow TrustedPakistan.com for verified updates and official notices.
