Government has announced Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in Pakistan from 10th to 15th May, the decision was taken under the current situation of coronavirus.
On Thursday, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) announced Eid-ul-Fitr holidays which have to be observed from May 10-15. “Announcement of Eid Holidays from 10-15 May 2021 — clearly stating intention of reducing national mobility,” the statement from the NCOC said.
NCOC, in a bid to curb the spread of the virus, also announced comprehensive guidelines by the name of “STAY HOME-STAY SAFE — Eid-ul-Fitr-2021 from 8-16 May 2021”.
The NCOC has further imposed a ban on chand raat bazaars, including mehendi, jewelry, and clothing stalls, from 8-16 May. “The current spike of COVID-19 in the country merits effective measures to arrest its further spread with special emphasis on reducing mobility during forthcoming Eid-Ul-Fitr,” the NCOC said in a statement.
All markets, businesses, and shops will remain closed except essential services, which include:
- Grocery stores
- Pharmacies/medical stores
- Medical facilities and vaccination centres
- Vegetables, fruit, chicken, and meat shops
- Bakeries
- Petrol pumps
- Food takeaways and E-Commerce (Home Delivery)
- Utility Services (electricity, natural gas, internet, cellular networks/telecom, call centres) and media.
NCOC also said, the ban on chand raat bazaars extends to mehndi, Jewelry/ornaments and clothing stalls, the NCOC said.
Moreover, a complete ban on tourism would be observed for both locals and foreigners.
All tourist resorts, formal and informal picnic spots, public parks, shopping malls will remain shut. All hotels and restaurants around tourist and picnic spots will remain closed. “Travel nodes leading to tourist/picnic spots closed; focus on Murree, Galiyat, Swat-Kalam, Sea View/beaches, and Northern Areas and other tourist destinations,” the statement said.
Locals, especially people of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, would be allowed to travel back home, the statement said.
