Govt. Announces Eid Holidays From May 10-15

Government announces Eid holidays from May 10 to -15.

An official notification from the Interior Ministry was issued in this regard on Monday.

The directive from the government comes after National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) recommended that Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in Pakistan should be observed from May 10-15.

The announcement of the Eid holidays was made after the approval of Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to a spokesperson for the ministry.

The Covid-19 standard operating procedures for Eid have already been issued, the spokesperson added.

The event of Eid traditionally celebrated with congregational mosque prayers, family feasts, and buying new clothes and gifts for loved ones, however, will be dampened like the previous year amid spiking coronavirus infections and partial lockdowns.

NCOC has already announced comprehensive guidelines by the name of “STAY HOME-STAY SAFE  Eid-ul-Fitr-2021 from 8-16 May 2021”, in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

The NCOC said that the purpose of most holidays is to limit national transport during Eid.

As per the notification,  henna, jewelery, clothing stalls, entertainment venues, public parks, shopping malls will be closed from May 8 to 16.

Furthermore, the recreational areas and surrounding hotels will also remain closed.

According to the guidelines, inter-provincial, inter, and intercity public transports will be banned. While private cars, rickshaws, and taxis will be allowed with 50 percent rides.

Similarly, additional trains will be run across the country till May 7.

The guidelines issued by the NCOC said, “All markets, businesses, and shops will remain closed, except essential services such as grocery stores, medical stores, hospitals, vaccination centers, vegetable, fruit and meat shops, bakeries, petrol pumps, food takeaways, and media houses.”