The federal government of Pakistan has announced public holidays on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division of Pakistan on Sunday.
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The decision was made after Shehbaz Sharif declared Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, as official public holidays to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The holidays will apply to government offices observing both five-day and six-day working weeks.
Experts have suggested that Eid ul Fitr is likely to fall on March 21 this year, with Pakistan expected to complete a 30-day Ramadan.
According to the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the new moon of Shawwal 1447 AH is expected to be born on March 19, 2026, at 06:23 PST.
SUPARCO stated that at sunset on March 19, the moon will be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes old, with an estimated 28-minute gap between sunset and moonset along Pakistan’s coastal regions.
However, the final announcement regarding the sighting of the Shawwal moon and the official start of Eid will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways has also announced the operation of four special trains to facilitate passengers traveling to their hometowns ahead of the Eid holidays.
According to officials, the first special train will depart from Lahore to Karachi on March 16. The second train will run from Quetta to Rawalpindi on March 17.
The third special train will operate from Karachi to Peshawar on March 17, while the fourth will travel from Karachi to Lahore on March 18 to accommodate the surge in passenger traffic during the festive season.
Officials said the initiative aims to ensure safe, convenient and timely travel for people heading home to celebrate Eid with their families.
