Overtime and Break Laws in Pakistan (2026)
Provincial labour laws since the 18th Amendment: e.g. Sindh Factories Act 2015 and Sindh Shops and Commercial Establishment Act 2015; Punjab and other provinces use the Factories Act 1934 and Shops and Establishments Ordinance 1969 as adapted · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
Double the ordinary rate for hours past 9 in a day or 48 in a week (shops and non-seasonal factories).
Breaks and lunch
Shops: no more than 6 continuous hours without a rest or meal interval of at least 1 hour.
Overtime in Pakistan
- 2x pay for hours past 9 in a day.
- 2x pay for hours past 48 in a week.
- Seasonal factories: overtime past 10 hours a day or 50 a week, at 2x.
- Sindh shops: overtime is only allowed for stock-taking, accounts and similar peaks, capped at 150 hours a year for adults.
- Spread-over limits: shops 10 hours in winter, 11 in summer; factories 10.5 hours (11.5 seasonal).
- Labour is a provincial subject. Figures were read in the Sindh Acts; Punjab, KP and Balochistan statutes follow the same 9/48 and 2x pattern per secondary sources, but check the provincial text.
Averaging over a pay period: Not allowed
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (2x after 48h in a week, 2x after 9h in a day). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (2x) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 80 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 90 | 10 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 96 | 12 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 75 | 5 |
Breaks and lunch in Pakistan
- Meal break: 1 × 60 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 6 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
- Factories: either no more than 6 hours before a 1-hour rest, or no more than 5 hours before a 30-minute rest with two such rests if work exceeds 8 hours.
- Factories: one weekly holiday; no more than 10 consecutive days without a whole day off.
Pay by Pakistan rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Pakistan: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in Pakistan?
Double the ordinary rate for hours past 9 in a day or 48 in a week (shops and non-seasonal factories).
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Pakistan?
Not allowed
What breaks are required in Pakistan?
Shops: no more than 6 continuous hours without a rest or meal interval of at least 1 hour.