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The Pakistan National Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution to take steps to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as holidays for minorities in the country.

“This house is of the opinion that government should take steps to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as closed holidays for minorities,” read the resolution moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmaker Ramesh Kumar Vankwani.

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The interior ministry has already given permission to heads of federal organisations, departments, and institutions to grant leave to minorities on their religious festivals, State Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah told the house.

If the government adheres to the resolution – which it is expected to – the interior ministry will issue a notification declaring the holidays.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Laws and Justice Pervaiz Rashid said that although he was not opposing the resolution, the number of holidays in Pakistan are more than any other country and the resolution should be reconsidered.


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For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the country will get public holidays on Holi, Diwali and Easter after its parliament on Tuesday adopted a resolution to this effect.

The resolution, which was moved by lawmaker Dr.Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, was adopted by the National Assembly to take steps to declare the festivals as holidays for minorities.

According to The Tribune, the Pakistan government has agreed to accept the resolution.

No one really objected to the resolution, reported Dawn.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah said that the Interior Ministry has already given permission to heads of federal organisations, departments, and institutions to grant leave to minorities on their religious festivals.

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While the Federal Minister for Laws and Justice Pervaiz Rashid said that the number of holidays in Pakistan are more than any other country, he didn’t object to the resolution either.

The minister also said that all Pakistanis equally share each others joy and sorrow and there is no discrimination on the basis of religion and faith. “Every citizen is enjoying religious freedom,” he said.