The Government of Pakistan has announced three holidays to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, says a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday.
A statement issued by the Cabinet Division stated that the offices observing six working days a week will enjoy three days off, starting from 29th June to 1st July.
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“In continuation of Cabinet Division’s circular No. 10-02/2022-Min-Il dated 23rd December, 2022 regarding Public and Optional holidays for the year 2023, it is for general information that the Prime Minister is pleased to approve the public holidays on occasion of Eidul Azha as follows: .
- 29th and 30th June 2023 (Thursday and Friday) for the offices observing five days working in a week; and
- 29th June to 1st July 2023 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) for the offices observing 6 days working in a week.”
A day earlier, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced the sighting of Zil Hajj moon in Pakistan meaning that Eid ul Adha will be celebrated across the country on June 29 (Thursday).
The decision was announced after the moon sighting committee meeting was chaired by Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad.
The testimonies of moon sighting were received from various cities including Karachi, Lahore and others, the Ruet-e-Hilal committee chairman said. Representatives of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, SUPARCO, Department of Meteorology, and Ministry of Science and Technology also attended the meeting.
The meetings of the zonal committees of Ruet-e-Hilal were held in their respective cities. The first Zil Hajj will be observed on 20th June 2023 (tomorrow), and Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated in the country on 29th June (Thursday).
Eid-ul-Azha commemorates the Quranic tale of the Prophet Ibrahim’s (PBUH) willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah, before the Almighty replaced the son with a ram to be sacrificed instead.
It marks the end of an annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, and should be undertaken by every Muslim who can afford to do so.
