Banks to Remain Closed for Public Dealing on January 1

News Desk 

Karachi: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday announced a nationwide bank holiday on January 1, 2026, during which all banks and financial institutions will remain closed for public dealing.

In a statement, the central bank said that the bank holiday will apply to commercial banks, development finance institutions (DFIs), and microfinance banks (MFBs) across the country.

However, the SBP clarified that bank employees will attend their offices as usual on the day, as the closure is intended solely for public transactions.

The annual bank holiday is observed to allow financial institutions to complete year-end accounting and operational processes and to ensure a smooth transition into the new financial year.