KARACHI: The Sindh government has declared May 1, 2025 (Thursday) a public holiday to mark International Labour Day across Province.
As per the details, all educational institutions and offices across the province will remain closed, a formal notification has been issued, stating that government and semi-government offices will be closed on May 1.
The Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department confirmed that all government and semi-government offices will observe the holiday. Schools, colleges, and universities will also remain closed.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson clarified that a notification about a holiday on April 26 circulating on social media is fake. No such notification was issued by the Karachi Commissioner.
Is 1st May 2025 a public holiday in Sindh?
Yes, May 1, 2025, is a public holiday in Sindh for Labour Day. All schools and offices will be closed.
Labour Day is observed worldwide, including in Pakistan, to renew the commitment to protecting workers’ rights. Almost every country declares a public holiday on this day.
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International Labour Day commemorates the workers who were killed or injured during protests in Chicago in 1886. On May 1, 1886, around 400,000 workers in Chicago went on strike following a call from labour leaders. The strike was so effective that a U.S. newspaper reported no smoke was seen rising from any factory chimney.
Workers came together at Chicago’s Haymarket Square to protest, with about 25 workers taking part.
They wanted to shorten work hours from 14 to 8 hours each day. The protest had workers from the area and outside, both trained and untrained. But the police shot at the group to break it up, causing several deaths, though the exact number is not clear.
In Pakistan, the first Labour Policy was introduced in 1972, officially declaring May 1 a public holiday.
