Early signs suggest 2026 could be a surprisingly generous year for workers in Pakistan, with most public holidays expected to fall on regular working days rather than Sundays. While the final holiday notification will only be issued by the Cabinet Division closer to the start of the year, tentative calendars circulating online point to a schedule that offers frequent breaks without disrupting weekends. According to preliminary listings, the first public holiday of 2026 is expected on February 5, when Kashmir Day falls on a Thursday. This early weekday holiday sets the tone for a year in which employees may enjoy more time off without losing weekends. Much of the focus, however, is on the Eid holidays, which traditionally shape travel and business activity across the country. Tentative dates suggest Eid-ul-Fitr holidays from Saturday, March 21 to Monday, March 23, subject to moon sighting. If confirmed, this would result in a long weekend, offering families and businesses a predictable break early in the year. In May, Labour Day is expected to fall on Friday, May 1, creating another three-day weekend. Later the same month, Youm-e-Takbeer on May 28 is also listed as a public holiday, adding another pause to the work calendar. Eid-ul-Adha is tentatively expected to begin around Wednesday, May 27, which could turn into an extended break depending on how the dates align with weekends and moon sighting. The pattern continues into mid-year. Ashura is provisionally scheduled for Thursday and Friday, June 25 and 26, offering two consecutive weekdays off without affecting Sundays. Independence Day, observed on Friday, August 14, is set to deliver a nationwide long weekend, while Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ is expected to fall on Wednesday, August 26, providing a midweek pause. Toward the end of the year, Iqbal Day on November 9 appears in the tentative list, followed by Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas in December. A restricted holiday on December 26 is expected to apply to Christian employees. Officials stress that all Islamic holidays remain provisional and depend on official moon sightings. Still, if the tentative schedule holds, 2026 may stand out as one of the most employee-friendly years in recent memory, with public holidays neatly spread across working days rather than lost to weekends.
From Startups to Style: Mera Brand Pakistan Opens Today in Karachi
Karachi’s entrepreneurial and family lifestyle scene is set to come alive today as the Mera Brand Pakistan flagship exhibition opens its doors to the public, positioning itself as one of the most vibrant showcases of local innovation, small businesses, and emerging consumer brands in the country. The 4th Mera Brand Pakistan Karachi Family Expo, starting today and running through the weekend, brings together hundreds of Pakistani brands under one roof. Hosted at the Expo Centre Karachi, the event blends shopping, food, entertainment, and entrepreneurship into a single family-friendly experience. Organisers say the goal is simple: give Pakistani brands the visibility they deserve while offering families an engaging space to explore homegrown products. This year’s expo features a wide mix of categories, including fashion, beauty, home décor, food and beverages, kids’ products, handicrafts, wellness items, and tech-enabled startups. Many of the participating brands are women-led or home-based ventures that have grown through social media and word of mouth. For them, mera brand is not just an exhibition. It is a launchpad. Beyond shopping, the expo has been designed as an experience. Visitors can expect live activities, food stalls, interactive zones for children, and special attractions aimed at encouraging families to spend several hours at the venue. Organisers say the family-centric format has been key to the expo’s growing popularity in Karachi. The rise of platforms like Mera Brand Pakistan reflects a broader shift in Pakistan’s retail and startup ecosystem. With rising costs of traditional retail space and growing digital exposure, physical expos have become critical touchpoints where online brands meet customers face to face. Industry observers note that such events help small businesses build trust, test products, and scale faster. According to organisers, this edition has drawn strong interest from startups, lifestyle brands, and returning exhibitors who credit earlier expos for helping them expand their customer base. The timing is also significant, as consumer activity traditionally picks up during seasonal shopping cycles. As the expo kicks off today, footfall is expected to remain strong over the coming days, driven by families, young shoppers, and supporters of local businesses. In a market often dominated by imported products, mera brand continues to carve out space for Pakistani creativity, resilience, and ambition proving that local brands are not just surviving, but thriving.
