
Railways to run five special trains for Eidul Azha
On the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Railways has decided to run five special trains on the occasion of Eidul Azha.
Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi has approved the schedule for these special trains, which will run across major cities.
According to PR spokesperson, the first Eid special train will depart from Karachi for Lahore on June 2 at 1:00pm.
The second train will operate from Quetta to Peshawar on June 3 at 10:00am. On the same day, a third special train will depart from Lahore for Karachi at 5:00pm.
Later that evening, a fourth train will set off from Karachi for Rawalpindi at 8:00pm, while the fifth and final Eid special train would depart from Karachi Cantt on June 4 at 5:30pm.
"The purpose of these special trains is to ensure that passengers can enjoy a safe, comfortable, and quality journey during Eid," the spokesperson said.
'Pakistan Railways' top priority is to help people reunite with their loved ones during the festive season,' the official added.
Eidul Azha likely on June 7
Eidul Azha is expected to be observed in Pakistan on June 7, as astronomical calculations indicate no chance of sighting the Zilhajj moon on May 27.
The new moon of Zil Hajj 1446 AH will be born on May 27, 2025, at 08:02 PST, according to astronomical data.
At the time of sunset on May 27, 2025 (29th Ziqad 1446 AH), the age of the new moon will be approximately 11 hours and 34 minutes.
Read more: Eidul Azha likely to be celebrated on June 7
According to the SUPARCO, along the coastal areas of the country, the time duration between sunset and moonset will be around 37 minutes.
The sighting of the new moon will not be possible even with the help of a telescope, under perfect weather conditions.
As a result, the 1st of Zil Hajj is expected to fall on May 29 and consequently, Eidul Azha is likely to be celebrated on June 7.
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