The federal government is reportedly contemplating the termination of Saturday as a holiday, according to insiders briefed on the matter. The Cabinet Division has solicited input from ministries regarding the potential elimination of Saturday as a holiday.
Following the collection of feedback from various ministries, the proposal to abolish Saturday as a holiday will be presented to the federal cabinet for final approval. Reports indicate that the practice of observing Saturday as a holiday has not yielded satisfactory outcomes.
The proposal to eradicate the Saturday holiday is slated for review during an upcoming cabinet meeting scheduled after Eid-ul-Adha. Local media reports suggest a likelihood that the federal government employees’ Saturday holiday may be revoked.
The government has been apprised that having a Saturday holiday does not lead to any savings in electricity or other resources; expenses remain unchanged. Nonetheless, it poses challenges for the general public.
Starting from July 1, it is anticipated that all departments will shift to having their weekly holiday exclusively on Sundays.
It’s worth noting that in 2022, the federal cabinet endorsed a two-day weekly holiday policy for government offices as part of an energy conservation initiative, prompted by the country’s ongoing severe energy crisis, particularly heightened during the summer months.
In Shehbaz Sharif’s previous term, there was contemplation within the government of reinstating the Saturday holiday for government employees. However, the proposal encountered considerable opposition and was ultimately not put into effect.
