ISLAMABAD: Hopes of a long weekend for thousands of federal government employees were dashed on Wednesday after the Cabinet Division issued a brief but decisive clarification, declaring Friday, 26 December 2025, a normal working day for all federal ministries and departments.
In a one-page notification dated 24 December 2025, the Cabinet Secretariat’s Cabinet Division stated that 26 December 2025 “is a working day for the Federal Government and all Federal Government establishments.” The short notice effectively ended expectations of an extended holiday following Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas on 25 December.
Who the Notification Applies To
The clarification has been widely circulated to:
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Federal ministers and advisers
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Constitutional offices
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Armed forces’ top leadership
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Islamabad judiciary
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State Bank of Pakistan
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All federal divisions and attached departments
This confirms that all federal offices headquartered in Islamabad must remain open on Friday.
Why Employees Expected a Long Weekend
The development comes just a day after the Islamabad district administration announced 26 December as a local holiday within the revenue limits of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The move had effectively created a three-day weekend for private offices, educational institutions, and local government departments.
Federal Employees Left Out
However, the Cabinet Division’s clarification makes it clear that federal government employees posted in Islamabad will not benefit from the ICT administration’s decision. Ministries, attached departments, and federal bodies are required to function as usual on Friday.
The decision has sparked disappointment among federal employees, many of whom had made travel and family plans assuming a long weekend after the public holiday on 25 December.
