Updated August 7th 2026
All About Employee Leave & PTO in Pakistan
Learn what you need to know about leave requirements in Pakistan and how Justworks EOR can help streamline hiring.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO
In Pakistan, employees’ rights to paid time off are protected by law. Employer responsibilities towards time off extend to tracking leave accurately to ensure employees have received and taken statutory time off. Justworks helps support compliant leave administration without the need to manage local processes on your own.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Pakistan
Employees in Pakistan are entitled to multiple types of statutory leave, which generally can’t be waived.
Vacation Leave
Employees are entitled to 14 days of paid annual leave after working 12 consecutive months under the same employer. Unused annual leave days can be accumulated to next year, provided the total number of accumulated leaves does not exceed 30 days in a year. Employees who resign or are dismissed must be compensated for unused accrued leave.
Sick Leave
Sick leave entitlements vary by statute and sector, though all employers are protected from termination during sick leave. Pakistani employees are also eligible for paid sick leave with proof of a medical certificate. Employees in commercial establishments are entitled to sick leave with full wages for a total period of eight days in a year. Such leave, if not availed of by an employee during a calendar year, can be carried forward, but the total accumulation of such leave shall not exceed 16 days at a time.
Under the Provincial Employees’ Social Security Ordinance(opens in a new tab), eligible employees may receive extended sick leave benefits subject to contribution requirements and medical certification.
Maternity Leave
Under the Maternity and Paternity Act, 2023, the federal government has introduced maternity leave of 180 days on the first birth, 120 days on the second birth, and 90 days on the third birth for female employees of public and private establishments under the administrative control of the federal government. This leave can only be availed three times in the entire service period of the employee. Employees are entitled to full pay during leave.
Paternity Leave
Under the Maternity and Paternity Act of 2023, the federal government has introduced paternity leave of 30 days on full pay for employees of public and private establishments under the administrative control of the federal government. This leave can only be availed three times in the entire service period of the employee.
Additional Leave Types
Employees are also entitled to 10 days of casual leave per year for unforeseen circumstances. Casual leave can’t be accumulated and can only be taken for up to three consecutive days at a time.
Public Holidays in Pakistan
Pakistan observes multiple paid public holidays throughout the year, including national and religious holidays.
Common public holidays include:
Feb. 5 – Kashmir Solidarity Day
March 23 – Pakistan Day
May 1 – Labor Day
Eid Al Fitr (three days)
Aug. 14 – Independence Day
Eid Al Azha (two days)
Ashura (two days)
The Prophet’s Birthday
Dec. 25 – Quaid-e-Azam’s Birthday / Christmas Day
Employees who work on a public holiday are entitled to a compensatory holiday with full pay and an additional substitute holiday.
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