Government employees are set to enjoy a rare four-day holiday period as Ashura will now be observed on Friday, June 26, following the non-sighting of the Muharram crescent, which also shifts the start of the new Islamic year to June 17.
On the occasion of Ashura, the federal government typically announces public holidays on the 9th and 10th of Muharram every year to ensure effective security and administrative arrangements during religious gatherings, processions, and Majalis across the country.
After the moon was not sighted, 9th Muharram will now fall on Thursday, June 25, while 10th Muharram (Ashura) will be observed on Friday, June 26. With the official holidays for Ashura followed by the regular weekend holidays on Saturday and Sunday, government employees will be able to enjoy four consecutive days off.
Although the dates for Ashura have now been determined following the moon sighting update, the official holiday notification will be issued by the federal government, after which the schedule will be formally confirmed.
Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to observe a public holiday across the province on the occasion of 1st Muharram 1448 Hijri.
