Banks across the country will remain closed on February 5 (Monday) in view of Kashmir Day, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Wednesday.
“The State Bank of Pakistan will remain closed on February 5, 2024 (Monday) as it is a public holiday on the occasion of ‘Kashmir Day’ declared by the Government of Pakistan,” the bank centrally said in a press release.
Pakistan celebrates Kashmir Day on February 5 every year to commemorate the plight and sacrifices of Kashmiris in Illegally Occupied Indian Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Last week, the federal government declared February 5 a national holiday for the entire country, and the cabinet decided to observe a minute’s silence at 10 a.m. that day.
The Sindh government also issued a notification today to celebrate Kashmir Day.
The nation is sending a message of solidarity and support to the people of the Indian-occupied valley.
The Kashmir issue remains a flashpoint between Pakistan and India as Islamabad continues to urge the world to hold a plebiscite on the disputed territory.
The conflict sparked global outrage after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally decided on August 5, 2019, to revoke Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which granted special status to the IIOJK.
Pakistan also said relations with its nuclear neighbor will not normalize until Kashmir’s special status is restored.
