KARACHI – The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), its allied offices, and all financial institutions will remain closed on Thursday, August 14, 2025, for the Independence Day holiday, according to a private media report.
All public and private banks, development finance institutions, and microfinance banks will also stay shut on the day. They will reopen and resume normal operations on Friday, August 15.
On the other hand, this year, Pakistan is set for an extended holiday break, as Independence Day and the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) are expected to fall on back-to-back days.
Nationwide Independence Day celebrations are already underway under the official theme “Marka-e-Haq,” marking the period from the April 22 Pahalgam incident to the conclusion of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos on May 10.
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The Cabinet Division has confirmed August 14 as a public holiday, with events and activities being held across the country to celebrate the occasion.
Chehlum, which marks the 40th day after the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), is expected to fall on Friday, August 15. While it is not a federal holiday, provincial governments may declare local holidays. In 2024, the Sindh government announced a province-wide school holiday for Chehlum.
If similar announcements are made this year, Pakistan could see a four-day holiday stretch from Thursday, August 14, to Sunday, August 17. Authorities have been directed to ensure strict security across the country during both events.
