A notification has been issued regarding the public holiday in Pakistan.
The holiday will be observed in Lahore district on April 12 (Saturday).
Reason behind the public holiday in Pakistan
The holiday is because of the celebration of the Urs of the 16th-century Sufi saint, Hazrat Shah Hussain. The festival is called Mela Chiraghan.
“This public holiday is being observed in connection with the annual Urs of Hazrat Shah Hussain (Mela Chiraghan) and will be effective across all sub-offices located within the Lahore district,” the notification read.
It is pertinent to mention that the public holiday in Pakistan would not apply to the Punjab Civil Secretariat, or regional offices.
Mela Chiraghan, (the festival of lights) is the festival of Lahore held every year to pay tribute to poet and Saint Madho Lal Husain aka Shah Husain
Mela Chiraghan used to be the biggest festival of Lahore and arguably even Punjab, attracting people of all religions to camp at Shalimar Gardens.
Earlier, the Cabinet Division notified May 1 as a public holiday in a circular listing public holidays for the year 2025.
The holiday is because of International Labour Day.
Every year on May 1, the globe observes Labour Day, often called May Day, to show support for workers and to recognise working class rights.
