SBP Declares December 25 Public Holiday, Banks to Remain Closed Nationwide. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued a formal notification declaring December 25 as a public holiday across the country. This holiday is being given on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, under which the normal activities of the State Bank, commercial banks, development finance institutions, microfinance banks and other financial institutions will remain suspended.
According to the notification, all offices of the State Bank will remain closed on Thursday, December 25, while transactions will not be possible in bank branches across the country. Apart from this, other banking services including clearing and settlement will also not be available on that day. The State Bank has directed the public and the business community to take care of their financial needs and banking matters in advance so as not to face any difficulty.
The State Bank says that ATM machines will remain functional as usual during the holiday, however, due to technical or operational reasons, there may be a temporary disruption in services at some places. Online banking, mobile apps and other means of digital payment will also remain available as per the policy of the banks.
It should be noted that on December 25, the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is officially celebrated across the country. On this occasion, events, seminars and speech competitions are organized in various government and private institutions, while the national flag is hoisted on government buildings. The public pays tribute to the services of Quaid-e-Azam.
It is pertinent to mention that SBP recently released the official data showing that Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have reached their highest level since March 2022.
