No. Banks in Pakistan were closed for public dealing on Thursday, January 1, 2026, after the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) designated the date a Bank Holiday. The notice also covered SBP, development finance institutions (DFIs) and microfinance banks (MFBs).
What the SBP notice said
In a notice dated December 30, 2025, SBP said it would remain closed for public dealing on January 1 and directed all banks, DFIs and MFBs to do the same. The announcement was reported as applying across Pakistan. Read the official SBP notice.
Here, “public dealing” means customer-facing banking at the named institutions. The notice does not declare a general closure of every service or institution.
Did bank employees have the day off?
No. The notice says employees of banks, DFIs and MFBs were to attend their offices as usual. The Bank Holiday applied to public dealing, not staff attendance.
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Did ATMs and online banking stop working?
The SBP notice does not address ATMs, online or mobile banking, card payments, or other electronic channels. It therefore does not establish whether those services were available or unavailable on January 1.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does this apply to every New Year’s Day?
No. This was a dated notice for Thursday, January 1, 2026. It does not establish a standing rule for future New Year’s Days. The Associated Press of Pakistan also reported the closure announcement: “Banks to remain closed on Thursday: SBP”.
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