Will May 1st be a public holiday in Pakistan?

ISLAMABAD: As May 1st approaches, many in Pakistan are asking whether Thursday will be officially declared a public holiday in honour of Labour Day.

So far, the federal government has not issued a formal notification confirming the holiday. However, a Cabinet Secretariat notification released in December 2024 had already listed May 1st, 2025 (Thursday) as a gazetted public holiday.

Despite this, the government is still expected to make a formal announcement.

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If confirmed, schools, colleges, and universities across major cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta will remain closed.

Public and private offices, along with the State Bank of Pakistan, are also likely to observe the holiday if it’s officially declared.

PAKISTAN’S LABOUR POLICY

Pakistan introduced its first labour policy in 1972, officially declaring May 1 as Labour Day. The policy also laid the foundation for key worker welfare initiatives such as the Social Security Network, Old Age Benefit Schemes, and the Workers Welfare Fund.

Labour rights are also safeguarded under various provisions of Pakistan’s Constitution.

Notably, Pakistan became a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) shortly after gaining independence in 1947. The ILO, a UN agency, works to promote social justice and internationally recognised labour rights.

So far, Pakistan has ratified 36 ILO conventions, including eight core conventions focused on fundamental rights at work.

International Labour Day is celebrated worldwide on May 1 every year to honour the contributions of workers and to promote awareness of their rights. The day has its roots in the 19th-century labour movement in the United States, particularly the campaign for an eight-hour workday.