The federal government in Pakistan has officially announced March 20 and March 21 as public holidays for offices in observance of Eidul Fitr holidays. This declaration, confirmed by a Cabinet Division notification issued on Sunday, provides clarity for both five- and six-day work week schedules across the country.

Prime Minister's directives specifically designate these two days, Friday and Saturday, as public holidays for the upcoming Eidul Fitr celebrations. This ensures a unified schedule for federal offices nationwide.

Anticipating Eidul Fitr Holidays: Moon Sighting Details

Forecasts from the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) indicate that Eidul Fitr is most likely to fall on March 21. This projection is based on a low probability of sighting the Shawwal moon on the evening of March 19.

However, the definitive announcement regarding the commencement of Eidul Fitr and the sighting of the Shawwal moon rests solely with the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee. This committee serves as the competent authority for declaring Islamic months based on verified observations and testimonies.

Echoing these predictions, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) previously suggested that the holy month of Ramadan would span 30 days this year. This further supports the likelihood of the Shawwal moon becoming visible on March 20, leading to Eidul Fitr on March 21.

Travel Preparations for Eid Celebrations

Ahead of the anticipated Eidul Fitr holidays, Pakistan Railways has initiated special measures to facilitate travellers. The department plans to operate four dedicated special trains to accommodate the increased passenger flow across major routes.

The first special train is scheduled to depart from Lahore for Karachi on Monday. A second service will connect Quetta with Rawalpindi, departing on Tuesday. Furthermore, passengers can utilize the third train from Karachi to Peshawar, scheduled for March 17, and a fourth service from Karachi to Lahore on March 18.

Source: dawn.com