Govt announces long weekend ahead of Eid celebrations

The federal government on Tuesday announced the Eidul Azha holidays from June 29 (Thursday) until July 1 (Saturday).

Yesterday, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said that the first day of Eidul Azha will be celebrated across Pakistan on June 29.

The announcement was preceded by meetings of the moon-sighting committee and other zonal committees in all provincial capitals of the country.

“Testimonies of the moon of Zilhaj being sighted were received from several areas, including Islamabad, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Khanpur, Ghotki, Karachi, Bahawalnagar and Peshawar.

“So, it was unanimously decided that the first of Zilhaj … will fall on June 20, 2023, and Eidul Azha will be celebrated on June 29, 2023,” he announced.

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The central and zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees were also accompanied by meteorological experts as well as members of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) for the moon sighting in Pakistan.

Eidul Azha marks the end of the Hajj which is one of the five pillars of Islam and should be undertaken by every Muslim who can afford to do so.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia announced the sighting of the Zilhaj moon on Sunday, marking the start of the Islamic month of Zilhaj from Monday, June 19, and setting the stage for the observance of Eidul Azha on Wednesday, June 28.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and several other Gulf nations usually celebrate Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha simultaneously.