Islamabad residents will enjoy an extra day off this month as the city’s administration has declared August 13, 2025, a public holiday — just one day before the nation celebrates its 78th Independence Day. The announcement came through an official notification issued on August 12, confirming that all non-essential government offices will be closed while critical services will continue to operate.

This isn’t the only holiday Pakistanis have seen this August. In Sindh, the provincial government earlier marked August 9 as a public holiday to commemorate the 282nd Urs of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a cherished figure in Sufi heritage.

In preparation for Independence Day festivities, Islamabad’s authorities have also enforced a ban on vuvuzelas (locally called baajas). The decision follows past complaints about noise disturbance during national celebrations. The Deputy Commissioner’s order warns of legal action against those violating the restriction.

On August 14, Pakistan will celebrate its independence from British colonial rule in 1947 with ceremonies, parades, and cultural programs. Cities from Karachi to Peshawar will be draped in green and white, while schools and colleges engage students through patriotic speeches, debates, and poetry recitals.

With the August 13 holiday in place, residents of Islamabad now have a long weekend to join in the preparations, attend events, or simply soak in the patriotic spirit building across the nation.