The Ministry of the Interior notifies Eid of 10 to 15 May

The Ministry of the Interior notifies Eid of 10 to 15 May

Eidul Fitr holidays in the country from 10 to 15 May were declared by the Interior Ministry on Monday.

According to a ministry spokesperson, a notice of the Eid holidays was given based on the advice of the National Command and Operational Centre, NCOC.

 

Covid-19 has already issued basic operating procedures for Eid, the Speaker said.

This year's eid is a time when Pakistan is fighting for a third wave of coronavirus infections, which have recorded more than 80 thousand cases and 18 thousand deaths and vaccinated just a fraction of the population.

 

Last week the NCOC announced a plan of Stay Home, Stay Safe (from the 8th to the 16th of May) to monitor the movement of people, including during Eidul Fitr's holidays, which usually include mass movements between town and towns and the return of migrant workers and Pakistani people from outside Pakistan to celebrate.

"Except basic services like grocery stores, medical facilities, medicines, clinics, vaccine centres, vegetable, fruit and meat shops, bakeries, gas stations, take-overs and media houses," NCOC guidelines state. "All markets, enterprises and stores shall remain closed.

 

The Chand Raat bazaars, including mehndi, jewellery and clothes stalls, will be banned. Tourism for locals and foreigners would be completely banned. The Eid vacations include both tourist destinations, formal and casual picnic areas, public parks, shopping centres, hotels and restaurants.

There will be a ban on mass transit between provinces, towns and cities. At 50% occupancy, private cars, taxis and rickshaws run.

 

It has been advised that the electronic media run films, dramas and shows to keep people in their homes. In addition, power supply will be maintained continuously during the Eid vacations.

The latest deaths of coronavirus in Pakistan have led to tighter travel constraints and public gatherings in Pakistan ahead of Eid. Officers worry that the country's still under stress health care system will break down if the virus is spreading more viral forms, as in the neighbouring India.

 

Pakistan's borders with Iran and Afghanistan were also closed for travellers by the government and foreign airlines were slashed for two weeks.

 

On Monday, 4,213 confirming new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours and 79 deaths from the disease were announced by the authorities.