Islamabad, June 22, 2023 (NNI): In a recent development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a public holiday on the Day of Arafah, which falls on June 28, 2023 (Wednesday). This decision comes just days after the government approved a three-day holiday for Eid ul Adha, scheduled for June 29.
The official announcement, superseding previous orders, was made through a statement issued by the Cabinet Division. The Prime Minister’s approval extends the Eid ul Adha holidays as follows:
For offices observing five days of work in a week, the holidays will be observed on June 28, 29, and 30, 2023 (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday). For offices observing six days of work in a week, the holidays will be observed from June 28 to July 1, 2023 (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).
The decision was made after careful consideration and consultation with relevant authorities. The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, confirmed the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon in Pakistan. Consequently, Eid ul Adha will be celebrated nationwide on June 29, 2023 (Thursday).
Testimonies of moon sightings were received from various cities, including Karachi and Lahore, among others. Representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, SUPARCO, Department of Meteorology, and Ministry of Science and Technology also attended the meeting chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad.
Furthermore, the decision was influenced by the valuable input provided by zonal committees of Ruet-e-Hilal, who convened in their respective cities to assess the moon sighting reports.
With these announcements, the government aims to facilitate the citizens in observing the religious festivities associated with Eid ul Adha and ensure a harmonious celebration across the country. NNI
