
Govt denies May 16 holiday rumours over Youm-e-Tashakur
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The government has officially designated May 16 as a "Youm-e-Tashakur" (Day of Gratitude) to commemorate the significant achievements in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and Ma'araka-e-Haq, while making it clear that no public holiday will be observed on the day.
Youm-e-Tashakur will be celebrated across the country on Friday, to honour the historic victory of Marka-e-Haq and pay tribute to the valiant armed forces and people of Pakistan, Radio Pakistan reported on Thursday.
Following the announcement, a notification began circulating widely on social media, claiming that May 16 would be observed as a public holiday across the country, with all schools and offices closed.
However, official government sources have dismissed these claims, clarifying that there will be no public holiday on May 16. Authorities have stated unequivocally that the viral notification is fake, and no such directive has been issued.
"The Day of Gratitude will be observed at a national level, but it does not entail a general holiday," the sources confirmed, urging citizens to rely on verified channels for accurate information.
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