The federal government has officially announced the Eid ul Azha Holidays 2026 schedule in Pakistan, confirming public holidays from May 26 to May 28 while declaring the third day of Eid as a regular working day. The notification was issued by the Cabinet Division after approval from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to the official notification, Tuesday, May 26, Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28 will be observed as public holidays across the country on the occasion of Eid ul Azha. Since Eid ul Azha is expected to fall on Wednesday, May 27, the holiday schedule effectively covers Chaand Raat and the first two days of Eid celebrations.
However, the government has not included Friday, May 29 in the notified holiday list, meaning the third day of Eid will remain a working day for public offices and many institutions. The decision has already sparked discussions on social media, as previous Eid holiday schedules often included all three Eid days.
Earlier reports and tentative holiday calendars had suggested that Eid holidays could continue until May 29, potentially creating a five-day break when combined with the weekend. However, the latest Cabinet Division notification appears to shorten the official holiday period.
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The announcement comes shortly after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee confirmed the sighting of the Zilhaj moon, officially setting Eid ul Azha for May 27 in Pakistan. Muslims across the country are now preparing for sacrificial rituals, family gatherings, and Eid travel arrangements ahead of the religious festival.
Eid ul Azha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most important Islamic occasions observed worldwide. The festival commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah’s command.
Despite the shorter break, many Pakistanis are expected to begin traveling to their hometowns before the holidays officially begin, leading to increased traffic on highways, public transport terminals, and railway stations nationwide.
