Govt employees to get salaries before Eid

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed that salaries of federal government employees be paid before the Eidul Fitr holidays.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the prime minister ordered that federal government employees should receive their salaries before the Eidul Fitr holidays.

Relevant federal departments have received the prime minister’s directives and have started the process to ensure that salaries are released before Eid.

The move is expected to provide financial relief to government employees as they prepare for Eidul Fitr festivities.

A day earlier, the federal government announced public holidays on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, issuing an official notification declaring March 20 and 21 as holidays across the country.

The Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission had already predicted that Eidul Fitr was likely to fall on March 21, as the chances of sighting the Shawwal crescent on March 19 were considered very low.

“At the time of sunset on March 19, the age of the new moon would be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, with an estimated 28-minute interval between sunset and moonset along Pakistan’s coastal belt,” the statement from SUPARCO had said.

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The commission had said the prediction was based on scientific calculations and observations, but had emphasised that the relevant religious authority would make the official announcement.

“The final decision regarding the sighting of the Shawwal crescent and the commencement of Eid-ul-Fitr 1447 AH would be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan, which is the sole competent authority to announce the beginning of Islamic months on credible witness testimonies and verified observations from across the country,” the statement said.