Kashmir Day in Pakistan
Kashmir Day, also called Kashmir Solidarity Day, is observed in Pakistan each year on February 5. It is a nationwide public holiday and a day for public expressions of support for people in Jammu and Kashmir.[1][2]
A day of solidarity
The day has a specific place in Pakistan’s public life: it expresses the country’s stated support for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and draws attention to the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Pakistani government messages describe this support as moral, political and diplomatic, and present the observance as a way to keep the issue before the international community.[2][3]
An official account says a complete strike took place in Pakistan on February 5, 1991, and that the day has been observed annually since then. The same account connects the observance with public reaction to violence in Jammu and Kashmir in January 1990.[2]
How people observe it
Official descriptions of observances in Pakistan include rallies, seminars, prayer gatherings and awareness campaigns. These activities are intended to draw attention to the situation in Kashmir and express solidarity; the format can vary by place and organizer.[3]
A nationwide one-minute silence in honour of those killed in Kashmir has been included in government instructions for the day. The Cabinet Division’s public notice specifies 10:00 a.m. for the silence, while the State Bank of Pakistan has also repeated the instruction in a circular.[1][4]
Public holiday and practical effects
The Cabinet Division declares February 5 a public holiday throughout the country on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day. The date is fixed in the calendar; no substitute day is specified for when February 5 falls on a weekend.[1]
The State Bank of Pakistan has issued public-holiday notices to banks for Kashmir Solidarity Day, so visitors should expect bank branches to close. Check locally for opening arrangements at schools, shops, private workplaces or transport services.[1][4]
Kashmir Day: frequently asked questions
Is it a public holiday?
Yes. The Cabinet Division declares a public holiday throughout Pakistan for Kashmir Solidarity Day.[1]
Are banks open?
The State Bank of Pakistan has issued public-holiday notices for banks on the occasion, so bank branches should be expected to close.[4]
Are shops and public transport closed?
The public-holiday notice does not specify shop opening or transport schedules. Check with local businesses and transport operators before travelling.[1]
Is there a replacement day if February 5 falls on a weekend?
No substitute day is specified when February 5 falls on a weekend.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Kashmir Day in Pakistan:
- Wednesday the 5th February 2025 shall be a public holiday throughout the country on the occasion of "Kashmir Solidarity Day." A one minute silence shall be observed at 1000 hours across the country in honour of Kashmiri Martyrs.- Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan
- Message from Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting (On the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, 5th February, 2020)- Press Information Department, Government of Pakistan
- Message from Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf on the Occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day- Press Information Department, Government of Pakistan
- PUBLIC HOLIDAY- State Bank of Pakistan