ISLAMABAD (National Times)- The federal government has officially announced public and optional holidays for the year 2026, with the Cabinet Secretariat issuing a detailed schedule covering national, religious and minority festivals. According to the notification released by the Cabinet Division, the first public holiday of 2026 will be observed on Kashmir Day, falling on Thursday, February 5. This will be followed by a holiday on Pakistan Day, marked on Monday, March 23. Eid Al Fitr holidays have been scheduled for March 21, 22 and 23, subject to the sighting of the moon. Labour Day will be observed on May 1, while Youm-e-Takbeer will be marked with a public holiday on May 28. Eid Al Adha holidays will be observed from May 27 to May 29. In addition, public holidays have been announced for the 9th and 10th of Muharram, corresponding to June 24 and June 25. Pakistan’s Independence Day will be observed as a public holiday on Friday, August 14. Eid Milad-un-Nabi (peace be upon him) will be marked with a holiday on Tuesday, August 25. A public holiday has also been announced on Monday, November 9, to mark the birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal. December 25 will be observed as a public holiday on account of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birthday and Christmas Day. An additional holiday on December 26 has been granted exclusively for the Christian community in connection with Christmas. Separately, bank holidays for 2026 have been announced for January 1, February 18 and July 1.