The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Tuesday declared a three-day public holiday across the province on the occasion of Eidul Fitr.
According to an official notification, the holidays will be observed from March 19 to March 21 (Friday to Sunday). The announcement extends the break beyond the federal government’s schedule, which has already designated March 20 and 21 as public holidays for offices operating on both five- and six-day work weeks.
Meanwhile, scientific forecasts suggest that Eidul Fitr is likely to fall on March 21. The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has indicated that the chances of sighting the Shawwal moon on March 19 are low. A similar prediction has been made by the Pakistan Meteorological Department, which expects Ramazan to complete 30 days this year.
Despite these forecasts, the official announcement of Eid will be made by the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, which remains the sole authority responsible for confirming the start of Islamic months based on verified moon sightings and witness testimonies from across the country.
In preparation for the festive season, Pakistan Railways has also announced plans to run four special trains from major cities to facilitate passengers traveling to their hometowns for Eid celebrations.