Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi has announced the operation of five special trains to accommodate increased passenger flow during Eid ul Azha. This initiative, taken on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to ensure that people can travel to their hometowns in time to celebrate the holiday with their families.
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Eid Special Trains Schedule:
According to a Pakistan Railways spokesperson, the first Eid special train will depart from Karachi to Lahore on June 2 at 1:00 PM.
The second will run from Quetta to Peshawar on June 3 at 10:00 AM.
The third train is scheduled to travel from Lahore to Karachi on the same day, June 3.
Later that night, the fourth special train will leave Karachi for Rawalpindi.
Finally, the fifth special train will depart from Karachi to Lahore on June 4 at 8:00 PM.
The spokesperson emphasized that these trains are being run to provide passengers with convenient and timely travel during the Eid holidays.
Moon Sighting and Eid Date:
Astronomers have stated that the Zilhaj moon is unlikely to be visible on May 27 (Tuesday) in Pakistan. However, Faheem Hashmi, a noted astronomer, told local media that there is a high probability of moon sighting on May 28, when the moon’s age will be 35 hours. Based on this prediction, Eid ul Azha in Pakistan is expected to fall on June 7, 2025.
The final decision regarding the sighting of the Zilhaj crescent will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Expected Public Holidays:
If Eid is celebrated on June 7, the likely public holidays will span from June 7 to June 9 (Saturday to Monday), with regular office work resuming on June 10. The official holiday schedule will be confirmed by the federal government after the moon sighting decision.
Eid ul Azha, observed annually during the Islamic month of Zilhaj, is a significant religious festival commemorating the profound sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Prophet Ismail (AS). On this occasion, Muslims across Pakistan offer special prayers and perform the ritual animal sacrifice.
