PM Shehbaz orders early payment of salaries of federal employees before Eid

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered 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 receive their salaries before the Eidul Fitr holidays.

Relevant federal departments have received the Prime Minister’s directives and have initiated 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 the Eidul Fitr festivities.

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

Pakistan’s Space and 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 interval of 28 minutes between sunset and moonset along the coastal strip of Pakistan,” the SUPARCO statement said.

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

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