Govt employees may enjoy 9-day Eid holiday

The government is set to announce 3 April as a holiday for government employees ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, potentially extending the total holiday period to nine days.

According to Cabinet Division sources, the government is going to take the decision at a meeting of the advisers' council led by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus tomorrow (20 March).

The government employees will have the opportunity to enjoy a long nine-day holiday from 28 March to 5 April, including weekly day-offs, if 3 April is added to the already existing five-day Eid holiday.

Festive season approaching as country prepares for long Eid holidays

Prior to that, government employees will also get a holiday on 26 March on the occasion of Independence Day, which means government employees will get a 11-day holiday if any of them take an optional leave on 27 March.

There are only two working days between 26 March and 5 April this year, which are 27 March and 3 April. According to the leave policy of the government, there is no option to take regular leave during this holiday as it will become an extended holiday if any government employee takes leave on these two days.

However, leaves on these two days will be regarded as day-offs on these particular days if any government employee takes optional leaves on these days, according to the leave policy.

As per the leave policy, a government employee can take such leaves only thrice in a year.

As a result, a government employee will be able to enjoy a 11-day holiday if 3 April is declared as an Eid holiday through an executive order and any government employee takes optional leave on 27 March.