The federal government of Pakistan has announced holidays on 9th & 10th Muharram which corresponds on 20th (Thursday) & 21st September (Friday) 2018.
The ashura holidays were announced in a notification which was issued by Interior Ministry, similar notifications have also been issued by the provincial governments of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).
Schools, colleges, universities and offices will remain close.
Security arrangements have also been made for the Muharram processions which will be led in different cities and parts of the country.
20th and 21st September , 2018 ( Thursday and Friday) are announced public holidays on the occasion of Ashura. #Muharram pic.twitter.com/9zAHM9XVdS
— Kiran Raza (@kiranraza_01) September 14, 2018
According to sources all provinces have requested the federal government to shut down the mobile & cellular networks for security reasons.
The final decision will be announced by federal government but it is expected that mobile networks will be closed down during the whole day from the start of procession till they end at their designated mosques.
Ashura marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) along with his companions in Karbala. In his remembrance Shia Muslims lead processions.
Another significance of this day is that on these days Allah gave Moosa (as) victory over Pharaoh. This is why Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) recommended his companions and Muslims to fast on 9th and 10th Muharram or 10th & 11th Muharram.