About Pakistan Day (Youm-e-Pakistan)
Pakistan Day, Youm-e-Pakistan, falls on March 23 and is a national holiday. It commemorates the Lahore Resolution of March 23, 1940, when the All-India Muslim League called for independent states for the Muslim-majority regions of British India — the demand that led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947. The same date in 1956 saw Pakistan adopt its first constitution and become the world's first Islamic republic. The countdown above tracks the days until the next Pakistan Day.
The day is marked by a change-of-guard ceremony at the Mazar-e-Quaid, the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi, and by the investiture ceremony at which the President confers civil and military honours. In most years a joint-services parade is held in Islamabad, with a flypast by the Pakistan Air Force and the Sherdils aerobatic team.
Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore — built on the ground where the Lahore Resolution was passed — is lit for the occasion, and public buildings across the country fly the flag. For Pakistanis abroad, March 23 is a fixture of community calendars from London to Dubai to Toronto.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Tuesday, March 23, 2027next |
| 2028 | Thursday, March 23, 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, March 23, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, March 23, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, March 23, 2031 |
FAQ
When is Pakistan Day?
March 23 every year. It is a public holiday throughout Pakistan.
What does Pakistan Day commemorate?
The Lahore Resolution of March 23, 1940, which called for separate Muslim-majority states, and the adoption of Pakistan's first constitution on the same date in 1956.
How is Pakistan Day celebrated?
With a joint-services parade and flypast in Islamabad, the investiture of national honours, and ceremonies at the Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi and Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore.
Is Pakistan Day the same as Independence Day?
No. Independence Day is August 14 and marks the creation of the state in 1947; Pakistan Day on March 23 marks the resolution that called for it and the first constitution.