LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced a local holiday in Lahore on August 26, 2024 (Monday), for which a notification has also been issued.
According to the official notification issued by the Government of Punjab, on the occasion of the annual Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh, known as Data Sahib, Monday, August 26, will be a local holiday in the Lahore district, and educational institutions and offices will remain closed.
This notification regarding the local holiday will be applicable to all government offices located in Lahore except the Punjab Civil Secretariat and its sub-regional offices.
The three-day 981st Urs celebrations of the great saint Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hajveri (RA) will be held from August 24 to 26.
The Auqaf Department has been allocated Rs 13.5 million for extensive arrangements of langar for visitors and other events.
The Auqaf Secretary briefed the media regarding the Urs arrangements here on Wednesday. He said that the Urs would be held on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, from August 24 to 26, 2024, at his Astana, which will be formally inaugurated by the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar.
Earlier, August 26 was declared a holiday for Lahore courts. In the notification issued after the approval of Acting Chief Justice Lahore High Court Abid Aziz Sheikh, it was stated that there will be a holiday in the courts of Lahore on August 26 in connection with the 981st Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh.
On the other hand, Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yaseen directed the relevant authorities to ensure proper monitoring of security arrangements for the three-day Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh through Safe City cameras.
Bilal presided over the meeting and reviewed security arrangements and other preparations. Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza gave a detailed briefing about the overall preparations for the Urs.
