ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced that the federal government employees will get salaries and pensions before Eid-ul-Fitr 2026 holidays.
On the special instructions of the Prime Minister, it has been decided to disburse March salaries and pensions before the festival.
Federal government departments have received instructions and have started working to pay salaries before Eid.
Eid-ul-Fitr holidays
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially declared March 20 and 21 (Friday and Saturday) as public holidays across Pakistan to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday.
The notification serves as a continuation of the earlier holiday circular from January 19.
“In continuation of Cabinet Division’s circular dated 19 January 2026 specifying public and optional holidays for the year 2026, the Prime Minister has been pleased to declare 20th and 21st March (Friday and Saturday) as public holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, both for offices observing 5-day and 6-day working weeks,” read the notification.
The decision ensures a unified break for all government employees, applying to offices that observe both five-day and six-day working weeks.
The notification effectively declares a four-day-long weekend for the nation.
March 20 (Friday): Eid-ul-Fitr Holiday
March 21 (Saturday): Eid-ul-Fitr Holiday
March 22 (Sunday): Weekly Holiday
March 23 (Monday): Pakistan Day (Public Holiday)
Eid-ul-Fitr moon sighting
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) on Wednesday predicted that the Eid-ul-Fitr 2026 moon is unlikely to be seen on March 19, meaning that Eid will fall on March 21.
As per details, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on March 19 to sight the Shawwal moon, which determines the date of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The Suparco, however, said that the chances of sighting the Shawwal moon on March 19 remain low, adding that the new moon was expected to be born on March 19 at 6:23 am.
The statement added, “At the time of sunset on March 19, 2026, the age of the new moon will be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, with an estimated 28-minute interval between sunset and moonset along Pakistan’s coastal belt.”
