Govt announces three-day Eidul Azha holidays from May 26

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday announced a three-day public holiday from May 26 to May 28 on the occasion of Eidul Azha.

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division and shared by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared May 26, 27 and 28 as public holidays for the festival.

The holiday announcement follows the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee’s decision that Eidul Azha will be observed in Pakistan on May 27 after the Zilhaj moon was sighted on Sunday.

According to the committee, testimonies of moon sighting were received from Karachi and other cities of Sindh, as well as from Mardan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and some other areas.

Eid date confirmed after moon sighting

Eidul Azha is observed on the 10th of Zilhaj and marks the culmination of Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam.

The confirmation of the Eid date set the stage for the federal government’s holiday schedule, which will run from Tuesday through Thursday.

The announcement means public offices will remain closed during the three-day period declared by the prime minister through the Cabinet Division notification.

Regional observance

Saudi Arabia is also set to observe the first day of Eidul Azha on May 27, according to a report published by the Saudi Gazette.

The alignment of the Eid date in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia comes after the moon sighting announcement made by the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee earlier this week.

The federal government’s notification formally sets out the public holiday schedule for Eidul Azha and provides clarity for government offices and the public ahead of the religious festival.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, several days after the moon sighting decision confirmed the start of Zilhaj and fixed May 27 as the date for Eidul Azha in Pakistan.

Eidul Azha is among the most significant religious occasions in the Islamic calendar and is observed annually with special prayers and animal sacrifice by Muslims around the world.

With the holiday schedule now notified, the country will observe three public holidays from May 26 to 28 for the festival.