August 12-15 (Monday to Thursday) declared as public holiday on accounts of Eid and Independence Day. PHOTO: APP/FILE
The government has announced a four-day holiday on accounts of Eidul Azha and Independence Day.
According to the Interior Ministry notification issued on Wednesday, August 12 to 15 (Monday to Thursday) have been declared public holidays.
According to the notification, Saturday, August 17 has been declared as a working day for the government employees.
With Eid approaching fast, many cattle traders belonging to far-flung areas of the country have started appearing in the urban centres – Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad among others – to attract customers specially kids.
Citizens are seen to be visiting different localities for buying sacrificial animals and the traders have also started roaming in streets with their animals to attract buyers.
Sacrificial animals start trickling in as Eidul Azha approaches
Eidul Azha commemorates the Quranic tale of the Prophet Ibrahim’s 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.
Last month, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry had announced this year’s dates for Eidul Azha and the beginning of the month of Muharram, based on scientific evidence.
In a tweet, he confirmed that Eidul Azha will fall on August 12, a Monday, while the first month of the Islamic calender, Muharram, will begin on September 1, a Sunday.
Eidul Azha on Aug 12, Muharram to begin on Sept 1: Fawad Chaudhry
The minister used the Ministry for Science and Technology’s newly launched lunar calendar to determine the dates. The calendar was launched to end the controversy that often surrounds the moon sighting for important Islamic events.
The calendar can be accessed by the website and can also be downloaded as a mobile phone application.
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