The Sindh government has officially announced a public holiday on February 19, 2025, in honor of the annual Urs celebrations of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. The holiday will be observed throughout the province, as confirmed by the Department of Services, General Administration & Coordination in an official notification.
Holiday Details:
The notification specifies that all public and private offices, as well as autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies under the administrative control of the Sindh government, will remain closed on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. However, essential services will continue operations as usual.
Sindh High Court to Observe Public Holiday:
In addition to government offices, the Sindh High Court (SHC) and its subordinate courts will also observe the public holiday on February 19. The courts will remain closed to commemorate the Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
Urs Celebrations at Sehwan Sharif:
The annual Urs ceremonies, which honor the revered Sufi saint Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, will begin on Monday, February 17, and will continue for three days. The festivities will include spiritual practices like Dhamal, Qawwali, and the recital of Sufi music at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan Sharif.
Special Train Services by Pakistan Railways:
To accommodate the devotees attending the Urs, Pakistan Railways is running two special trains. The first train will depart from Faisalabad station on February 14 at 10:00 PM, reaching Sehwan Sharif on February 15 at 2:15 PM, while the second train will depart from Lahore on February 15 at 3:00 PM, arriving in Sehwan Sharif on February 16 at 9:00 AM.
Return services are also scheduled, with the Faisalabad-bound train departing Sehwan Sharif on February 20 at 4:00 PM and arriving in Faisalabad the following morning at 9:00 AM. Similarly, the Lahore-bound train will leave Sehwan Sharif on February 20 at 5:00 PM and reach Lahore the next day at 11:30 AM.
The public holiday on February 19, along with the special train services, aims to facilitate the devotees and enable them to participate in the religious and cultural festivities marking the Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan Sharif.
