ISLAMABAD: on Monday The interior ministry announced ”Eid-ul-Fitr holidays” in the country from May 10 to 15.
Eid holidays notification 2021
According to a spokesperson for the ministry, the notification for the Eid holidays was issued based on the recommendations of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and with the approval of PM Imran Khan.
The Covid-19 standard operating procedures(SOP’s) for Eid have already been issued, the spokesperson added. This year’s Eid comes as Pakistan struggles to contain a third wave of coronavirus infections, with more than 800,000 cases and 18,000 deaths declared and only a fraction of the population having been vaccinated.
Earlier it was reported that Pakistan expected to receive 19 million doses of coronavirus vaccines by the first half of the ongoing year.
“We expect to receive 19 million doses of Covid vaccines by the first half of the current year,” Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Faisal Sultan said while addressing a press conference at the NCOC.
The NCOC last week announced a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” strategy from May 8 to May 16 aimed at controlling the movement of people, including during the Eidul Fitr holidays, which usually see the mass movement of people between cities and villages as well as the return of migrant workers and overseas Pakistanis for celebrations.
The SAPM stated that the government has signed agreements to receive 30 million doses of the vaccines, adding that the process will continue in phases.
Minister for Planning Asad Umar said that over 164,000 people were vaccinated for Covid-19 in a single day on Monday (May 3).
