Seven-day Eid-ul-Azha holiday begins

A nationwide seven-day public holiday has officially commenced, clearing the way for millions of citizens to journey to their hometowns and celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Azha with their families.

Under the festive schedule set by authorities, all government, semi-government, autonomous, and private institutions will remain closed until the end of the month. The religious festival, which stands as one of the most significant events in the Islamic calendar, is set to be observed across the country on Thursday.

The mass exodus from major urban hubs intensified immediately after the working day concluded on Sunday evening. This sudden surge in travelers has put significant pressure on major transport networks, creating bustling crowds at bus terminals, railway stations, and river ports.

To help ease the annual travel rush and avoid major gridlock on the nation’s motorways, officials previously adjusted the holiday framework. By utilising a special executive order, the government introduced an extra public holiday to create an unbroken seven-day vacation period. According to officials from the Ministry of Public Administration, this extended window was achieved by seamlessly blending the official Eid dates with additional executive rest days.

The foundational plan for this extended break was approved by the cabinet earlier in the month. To balance the ledger and keep traffic manageable, authorities declared Monday a public holiday while ensuring that offices remained fully operational over the preceding weekend. This tactical restructuring aimed to spread the travel demand across several days rather than a single evening.

As the extended break gets underway, heavy passenger numbers have been reported across key transit hubs since the early hours of Monday morning. Despite the volume of travelers, transport authorities have noted that the overall travel operations remain largely orderly and under control.

Law enforcement agencies have deployed significant numbers of personnel across key junctions to manage the flow of vehicles and ensure the safety of passengers. Traffic police representatives confirmed that teams are on the ground to maintain smooth vehicle movements and resolve any localized bottlenecks quickly.

During visits to major transport hubs, including the central bus terminals, large queues of passengers were observed waiting for transport, with many noting that they deliberately chose to travel early to avoid the peak congestion usually seen right before the festival. While the vast majority of long-distance transport options have managed to stick to their departure schedules, a few specific routes have experienced minor delays due to the high volume of travellers.