The federal government has announced a total of 14 public
holidays for 2019. The interior ministry issued a notification listing the dates and days of the public
holidays for Kashmir Day, Pakistan Day, Labour Day, Eidul Fitr, Eidul Azha, Independence Day, Ashura, Eid Miladun N
abi and Quaid-e-Azam D
ay.
Additionall
y, three bank
holidays – January 1, May 7 and July 1 – were on the list for this year. Banks will remain closed on the three days for the public, but not for employees. “The
holidays for Muslim festivals are subject to appearance of [the] moon for which a separate notification will be issued,” the notification reads.
Meanwhile, 23 days of optional
holidays have also been given. Government officers who wish to avail the optional
holidays have to take prior permission from their con
cerned head office, the notification says, adding that Muslims can avail only one optional
holiday while non-Muslims can take up to three optional
holidays.
Optional
holidays include New Year Day, Basant Punchami, Shiv Ratri, Holi, Dulhandi, Shab-e-Mairaj, Good Friday, Holi, Easter, Nauroze and others.
Published in Daily Times, February 4th 2019.
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