The State Bank of Pakistan has announced a bank holiday across the country on the 1st of Ramadan.
According to the official statement, all public and private sector banks will remain closed for public dealings on 1st Ramadan 1447 Hijri due to the annual Zakat deduction.
The holiday will apply nationwide.
The statement further confirmed that all banks, development finance institutions and microfinance banks will suspend public transactions on the specified date.
However, a spokesperson for the State Bank clarified that employees of banks, development finance institutions and microfinance banks will attend offices as usual. Only staff involved in public dealing will observe the holiday.
Meanwhile, the central meeting of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to sight the Ramadan 1447 Hijri moon will be held in Peshawar on Wednesday. Zonal committees across other parts of the country will also convene.
The zonal committees will collect moon-sighting testimonies and forward them, along with evidence, to the central committee. Following consultations, the Chairman of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will make the formal announcement regarding the commencement of Ramadan.
