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Dates are written in the order day-month-year. The names of the months in Urdu sound very similar to the English names. Visitors should be aware of two Muslim religious festivals which affect the patterns of everyday life. During the month of Ramadan devout Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. During this period it is illegal in Pakistan for restaurants, shops, and vendors to sell prepared foods or drinks until after sunset. Visitors must refrain from eating or drinking anything (including water) in public during this time. Markets selling unprepared foods such as fruits and vegetables will be open during the day, but anyone who is not fasting should eat and drink only in private. Since the months of the Islamic calendar shift in terms of the time of year they occur, visitors should acquaint themselves with the dates of Ramadan before making travel plans. A second month of importance is Moharum which is a mourning period for Shia Muslims. On certain days of the month, people dress themselves in black and form processions through the streets practicing self-flagellation as the procession moves through the streets. Because the processions can cause traffic jams and because tensions occasionally erupt between Shia and Sunni Muslims, a visitor may want to be cautious about going out and about on procession days.
Businesses will be closed on major holidays. Also most businesses have a half-day on Friday, or at least close for two to four hours for Friday prayers. Many shops are open again on Saturday. Almost all businesses are closed on Sundays.
National Holidays:
March 23: Pakistan Day
August 14: Independence Day
September 6 Defense Day
November 9: Allama Iqbal Day
December 25 Birthday of Founding Father of Pakistan
December 31: Bank Holiday
Major Religious Festivals:
Eid-ul-Fitr (or Choti Eid): 3 days at the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan
Eid-ul-Azha (or Bari Eid): 3 days at the end of the Islamic month of Zilhajj (people sacrifice 4-legged animals in commemoration of the almost-sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham)
Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi: Commemorating the birth and death of the Prophet Muhammad on the 12th. of the Islamic month of Rabi-Awaal