The federal government has approved a five-day holiday for Eidul Fitr, the interior ministry said on Thursday. The approval was given on the recommendation of the Cabinet Division.

There will be public holidays in the country from April 21 to April 25 on account of Eidul Fitr. An official notification would be issued by the interior ministry.

As expected, all businesses, public places, community markets, shops, etc would remain closed during this period. Only essential items’ shops and medical services/stores, as already notified, would remain open.

Earlier, the Pakistan Railways announced that it would run five special trains to meet high passenger flow during the occasion.

On April 18, two of the special trains would embark on their journey from Karachi to Peshawar and Quetta to Rawalpindi.

A train would depart from Karachi’s Cantt Station to Lahore on April 19. The fourth special train is scheduled to leave from Rawalpindi, making its way to Quetta on April 26.

The fifth and final train would leave from Lahore to Karachi on April 27.

The date for Eidul Fitr would be decided after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s meeting on April 20 to sight the crescent moon for Shawwal—the 10th month in the Islamic calendar year, according to the religious ministry.