KARACHI: All the banks and financial institutions will observe Eid ul Fitr holidays from April 10 to 12, announced the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday.

In a statement, the SBP announced that the central bank will “remain closed from 10th to 12th April, 2024 (Wednesday to Friday) being public holidays on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr”.

Subsequently, all the banks, micro finance banks and other financial institutions will also observe Eid holidays during the period.

Earlier today, the federal government notified the Eid holidays. As per the notification released by the Cabinet Division, the offices observing five working days a week will observe three public holidays from April 10 to 12 and the offices observing six working days will observe four public holidays from April 10 to 13.

“The prime minister has been pleased to approve public holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr,” read the notification signed by Press Information Department (PID) Principal Information Officer Muhammad Aqib Gulzar.

The Met Office on Monday predicted that the first day of Eid ul Fitr would fall on April 10 as the Shawwal moon was expected to be sighted on April 9.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the crescent would be born on April 8 at 11:21pm and it would be aged between 19 and 20 hours the next day around Maghrib prayer.

The crescent could be spotted for over 50 minutes around the sundown, it said.

The PMD said the sky in most parts of the country would be clear on April 9. However, it added that the sky might be cloudy in northern areas.