The federal administration, led by the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), has been compelled to reverse its decision on weekly vacations for government offices and educational establishments in less than two months.
According to unsubstantiated reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the federal government’s decision to reinstate Saturday as a holiday, resulting in a two-day weekend.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said in April that the two weekly holidays will be abolished, with just Sunday being celebrated as a holiday in government agencies and educational institutions.
Government employees and students protested the move, demanding that the government return to a two-day weekend schedule.
Miftah Ismail, who was not the Finance Minister at the time, intimated that after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, the government would reconsider its decision.
Miftah had justified the prime minister’s decision by claiming that official working hours are already decreased during Ramadan and that there will be numerous Eid-ul-Fitr vacations, which is why PM Shehbaz had decided to eliminate the Saturday holiday.
The administration had already decided that the Saturday holiday would not be reinstated in government workplaces.
The Establishment Division has issued a notification in this regard, after the Prime Minister’s consent.
According to the notice, federal government offices must work six days a week and keep office hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday.
From 1 p.m. onwards, a 30-minute prayer break is permitted. On Friday, however, the hours will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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