Holiday announcement dashes hopes of long weekend

Govt employees say an additional Friday holiday clubbed with the next weekend would give them more time


APP August 17, 2018
PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: With only five days left for the festive occasion of Eidul Azha people residing and working in the federal capital were planning to move to their hometowns on Friday to celebrate the festival with their relatives and loved ones.

However, most of them expressed their disappointment after a three-holiday was announced by the interim government as many were planning to avail leave on Monday and hoping for an additional Friday Eid holiday to enable them to spend a long weekend in their home towns.

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"It is difficult to get two leaves prior to the Eid holidays and afterwards as one of these weekends will surely be wasted," Ahsan Saeed, a government official said.

“Earlier we had planned to head to our hometown in Khairpur, Sindh on August 17 (Friday) and return on August 26 (Sunday) but now we plan to leave on Monday evening after duty and return on Sunday availing leave on Friday,” he said.

Farooq Ansari, an office worker said: "I wish the government announces a holiday on Friday so that we can club the weekend with already announced holidays and enjoy the joy and happiness of Eid a bit longer.”

The federal capital wears a deserted look on the occasion of both Eids as most of the residents leave for their hometowns but this trend is decreasing with the passage of time due to the busy schedule and more facilities in the cities.

Nevertheless there are still a lot of people who prefer to celebrate this occasion with their families whom they are unable to meet personally throughout the year.

"Eid is the only occasion when I get to visit my family living in my native town. As my home town is in a remote  area of Balochistan, it costs more than Rs15,000 for a single person and it takes three days to simply reach the destination," a government official from a village in Panjgur said.

“In such a situation, three holidays are not enough for me to spend time with my family but there is no other option as my parents are anxiously waiting for me,” he said.

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Shagufta Shahid, a working woman said: "My children were very enthusiastic to spend a 10-day vacation with their grandparents in our hometown in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and we had planned many activities and gatherings with their cousins.”

Unfortunately, she said that her office management refused to give me an extra leave prior to or after Eid holidays so she only has three days for travel and celebrations. One day will be spent on handling sacrificial rituals and then there will be no time to meet the whole family.

"My children are also disappointed with the new plan of having a short visit to see our family," she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2018.

COMMENTS (1)

G-Unit | 5 years ago | Reply In developed countries 3 days holiday is not even fathomable. The government has allotted 3 days, which I believe should be more than enough to enjoy EID with family. Our firm is fully staffed on Eid and we don't have the luxury of even 1 day off.
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