By Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD — The federal government has announced public holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr across the country.
According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division of Pakistan with the approval of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif March 20 and March 21 have been declared official public holidays.
The notification states that Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, will be observed as government holidays nationwide, while Sunday, March 22, already falls on the regular weekly holiday.
Officials believe that Ramazan is likely to complete the full 30 days this year, meaning the first day of Shawwal and Eid-ul-Fitr may fall on Saturday, March 21. However, the final confirmation will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
According to Pakistan Meteorological Department Deputy Director Anjum Nazir, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will hold a meeting in Islamabad on March 19 to sight the Shawwal moon.
He said the moon will be born at 6:23am Pakistan time on March 19 and will be only about 12 hours old at sunset that day.
Experts say that a 12-hour-old moon cannot be seen with the naked eye and usually becomes visible only when it is at least 14 hours old, even with the help of a telescope.
Meteorological officials therefore expect Ramadan to complete 30 days this year, placing the first of Shawwal on March 21, though the final announcement will be made by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Eid-ul-Fitr, Pakistan, Public Holidays, Ramadan, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Islamabad, Cabinet Division, Pakistan Meteorological Department
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