The banking and stock market activity in Pakistan will pause on May 1, 2026. The closure comes as the country observes Labour Day. The government has officially declared it a public holiday. The State Bank of Pakistan announced that all banking services will remain closed on Friday, May 1, 2026. This decision applies across the entire banking sector. It includes commercial banks, development finance institutions, and microfinance banks.
An official notification issued by the State Bank of Pakistan confirmed the Labour Day holiday on May 1, 2026. All financial institutions were directed to suspend operations for the day. As a result, routine banking services will not be available to customers across the country.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Stock Exchange also confirmed a complete shutdown of trading activity. No buying or selling will take place on the exchange during the holiday. Market operations will remain paused for the full day.
Normal financial operations will resume on the next working day. Banks and the stock exchange will return to their regular schedules after the holiday ends.
The closure aligns with Labour Day celebrations observed nationwide. The day is marked to honor workers and their contributions to the economy. Therefore, financial markets are typically closed every year on this date.
Customers are advised to plan their banking needs. Digital banking services may still function, but branch operations will stay suspended. This helps avoid delays during the holiday period.
The temporary shutdown is part of the official holiday calendar. It ensures uniform closure across all financial institutions in the country. This also allows employees to observe the public holiday without work obligations.
