ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Two public holidays have been announced on June 25 and 26 (Thursday and Friday) across the country on account of Ashura, Muharram 1448 A.H, according to the Cabinet Division notification.
“Prime Minister has been pleased to declare 9th and 10th Muharram 1448 A.H., falling on 25th and 26th June, 2026 (Thursday and Friday), as public holidays, both for offices observing five (5) and six (6) days’ working weeks,” the notification stated.
Earlier today, the Sindh government also declared public holidays on June 25 and 26 on account of Ashura, according to the notification shared by the Sindh Information Department on X.
The notification, said. “The government of Sindh, hereby declares June 25 and 26, 2026, as public holidays throughout the province of Sindh, on the occasion of Ashura (Muharram 9 and 10, 1448 A.H).”
It added that all offices, autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, and local councils under the administrative control of the government of Sindh, except for essential services, would remain closed.
Muharram, a month of mourning observed in particular by Shia Muslims worldwide, commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where, amongst many, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), Imam Husain (RA), and other family members were martyred.
Day of Ashura on June 26
On June 15, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee had announced that the moon of Muharram 1448 AH had not been sighted today and that the first of Muharram would be on Wednesday, June 17.
The meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee for sighting the Muharram 1448 AH moon was chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad at Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, in which representatives of the Meteorological Department and committee members participated.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Chairman of the committee, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, said that evidence of the sighting of the Muharram moon was not received from anywhere in Pakistan.
“So the first of Muharram will be on Wednesday, while the Day of Ashura will be observed on Friday, June 26,” he said.
