Sindh announces public holiday on Sept 1

Karachi: The Sindh government has announced a public holiday on September 1 (Friday) to mark the 280th Urs of saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitta on Tuesday.

According to a notification, all offices, educational institutions, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, corporations and local councils falling under the Sindh government, except essential services, will remain closed on Friday.

"The government of Sindh declares 14th Safar 1445 (A.H) September 1, 2023, as a public holiday throughout the province of Sindh on the occasion of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai's (RA) urs for all offices, autonomous, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, and local councils under the administrative control of the government of Sindh," read the notification.

Great Sufi poet and saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai lived from 1689 to 1752. He is largely regarded as the greatest poet to have written in Sindhi.

"Shah Jo Risalo," which has been published in a variety of editions and has been translated into English, Urdu, and a number of other languages, is a compilation of his collected poems.

The urs is a three-day event that starts on the 14th Safar (the second month of the Hijra calendar) every year.