Executive Orders Could Extend Eid Holiday to Ten Days

The upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holiday, initially scheduled for five days, could be significantly extended to a ten-day break, offering greater convenience for those travelling home to celebrate the festival.

According to sources from the Ministry of Public Administration, the government is considering extending the Eid holiday to allow families more time together.

Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the most significant religious festivals for Muslims, is expected to be observed on 21 March, depending on the sighting of the moon of the Arabic month of Shaban. The government has currently declared 19 to 23 March as the official Eid holiday.

Following these dates, government offices are slated to reopen on 24 and 25 March, although 26 March, Thursday, marks the national holiday of Independence Day. The subsequent Friday and Saturday are weekly holidays, creating a potential long weekend.

If the government issues executive orders to include 24 and 25 March as holidays, the Eid celebrations would effectively extend to ten consecutive days, offering citizens an unprecedentedly long festive break.

In addition, 17 March, Tuesday, will be observed as a public holiday for Shab-e-Qadr, a significant religious observance during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Public Administration noted that they may propose extending the holiday by one or more days, but the final decision rests with the Cabinet.

The official lunar sighting for Ramadan was confirmed on 18 February, with the first day of fasting commencing on 19 February. Therefore, the Eid celebration is expected on 21 March, contingent on the moon sighting of the month of Shawwal.

For clarity, the potential holiday schedule is summarised in the table below:

If the extension is approved, Eid 2026 would become one of the longest consecutive holiday periods in recent years, allowing millions of citizens to spend more time with family and participate in festive traditions across the country.

This proposed extension also reflects the government’s recognition of the logistical challenges faced by returning travellers during major religious festivals and aims to provide a smoother and more enjoyable celebration period for all.