15 holidays expected in month of May

ISLAMABAD: May 2026 is likely to be a holiday-filled month for Pakistani citizens, with various official and weekly holidays, along with possible holidays for Youm-e-Takbir and Eid-ul-Adha, totaling 14 to 15 days. This number could increase if the government grants any additional holidays.

The month will start with a long holiday, as Labour Day falls on Friday, May 1, and will be followed by weekly holidays on May 2 and 3 (Saturday and Sunday), providing three consecutive days of holidays.

More holidays are expected towards the end of the month due to Eid al-Adha, but the final dates will depend on the sighting of the Zul-Hijjah moon.

If the moon is sighted on May 17, Eid-ul-Adha is likely to fall between May 27 and 29, which, combined with the weekly holidays, could make for a five-day break.

However, if the moon is not sighted on May 17 and the month has completed 30 days, Eid-ul-Adha can be celebrated from May 28 to 30, in which case the holiday on Sunday, May 31 will also be included in this series.

Furthermore, if the government announces an additional holiday on Monday, May 25, it can form a long series of holidays along with the weekly holidays on May 23 and 24.

According to Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, a meeting of the committee has been called on May 17 for the sighting of the moon of Zul-Hijjah, after which the final dates of Eid-ul-Adha will be announced.