KARACHI: The Sindh government has declared a public holiday across the province on March 13 (Friday), according to an official notification released on Thursday.
All government departments, autonomous agencies, semi-autonomous organizations, corporations, and local councils under provincial control, excluding essential services, will remain closed on this day.
This announcement aligns with earlier statements by Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, indicating that March 13 may coincide with Jumma-tul-Wida, the final Friday of Ramadan. If Ramadan concludes after 29 days, March 13 will mark the observance; if the lunar sighting extends Ramadan to 30 days, the holiday will shift to March 20. The final decision hinges on the moon sighting confirmation.
Additionally, the Sindh government had previously mandated work-from-home arrangements on Fridays as part of its austerity and fuel conservation efforts, a measure reinforced by the national austerity initiative led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The timing of the holiday and related measures come amid ongoing supply disruptions and regional tensions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil transit route.
