How many holidays expected for Eid-ul-Fitr in Pakistan?

Under proposed schedule, holidays are likely to fall on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, allowing an extended break for the festival marking the end of Ramadan

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 14th, 2026) The Federal government has decided to grant four public holidays for Eid al-Fitr, according to a report.

Under the proposed schedule, the holidays are likely to fall on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, allowing an extended break for the festival marking the end of Ramadan.

Reports suggest that this year Ramadan is likely to complete 30 days, which means the first day of Shawwal—celebrated as Eid—may fall on Saturday, March 21. However, the official announcement will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after sighting the moon.

Deputy Director of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Anjum Nazir, said that the committee is scheduled to meet in Islamabad on March 19 to observe the Shawwal crescent.

He explained that the birth of the moon will occur at 6:23am Pakistan Standard Time on March 19, and by sunset that day the moon’s age will be only about 12 hours, which makes its visibility highly unlikely.

Nazir noted that scientifically a crescent moon generally becomes visible when it is at least 14 hours old, even with the help of telescopes. Therefore, a 12-hour-old moon would be extremely difficult to observe and cannot normally be seen with the naked eye.

He added that, based on current astronomical estimates, Ramadan is expected to complete 30 days, making Saturday, March 21 the likely date for Eid. However, the final decision will be officially announced by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after reviewing moon-sighting reports.