KARACHI: Industrialists and businessmen have urged the government to take back the cabinet decision to follow a two-day holiday in a week saying it will further slowdown the already sluggish economic growth in the country.
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the decision for a two-day holiday in a week but the decision will be implemented after the approval of Council of Common Interest (CCI).
The government is under pressure on its power policies and recently opposition-led protests have pushed government to quickly take decisions on power sector issues.
In case the government thinks the two-day holiday is indispensable, the government should exempt those institutions that have direct links with the economy like customs and banks, said Ehtesham uddin, Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry.
The exports of the country have already shown a decline last month and in these conditions, the two-day holiday will certainly affect the industrial output of the country which is not in the country’s interest, he said.
Muhammad Irfan Moton, Chairman, SITE Association of Industry Karachi, said “we oppose the two-day holiday in a week at any cost because it increases our cost of production and reduces our production output”.
This will reduce one working day and if someone wants to continue industrial production on an off day, he would have to pay overtime to his workers, which is a big burden on the industry that is already crippling, he said.
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mian Abrar Ahmad also rejected the proposal of five-day working week.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2011.
COMMENTS (3)
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I think this is good decision taken by the Federal Govt. as holiday is only solution to minimze long power outage resulting in increase cost of production and damaging the economy.
Someone should ask these free-rider, tax evading industrialists, if they really lose out on soooooo much business on Saturdays, how come it doesn't reflect on their tax returns. Most people, who ACTUALLY work during the week will tell you that a 2-day weekend improves their efficiency and morale during the rest of the week. When you force people to work more, you don't get more productivity out of them, rather you give them more opportunities to slack off during work hours. If our MNA's and MPAs ever did an honest day's work, they'd know that societal frustration actually goes down if people are allowed to unwind on weekends. And please, we should also as a society stop condemning all entertainment as unIslamic. Watching a movie over the weekend should be more halal than doing aerial firing, or sending stupid stalker-style messages to random recipients, over near free cellphone connections.
Friday should also be declared as Half-Day so that believers can offer Friday prayers under strictest survillance of police and the para-military people.
There should be complete holidays during the holy month of Ramadan so that believers could fast, offer taravis, go into "Eitekaf" or proceed to Umra, while there should be a complete 15-days holiday on account of Eid-ul-Azha so that believers can try to find out some good "Bharoo", sacrifical goat while those intending to proceed for Haj should be granted two months ex-pakistan leave (with provision of further extension of two months extra-ordinary leave) while all business, eductional institutions, offices and local and international transaction should be suspended till Chelum during the HOly month of Ramazan, while miscellenous leave should also be added in the planner.
I am sure the proposed Leave Formula will usher Islamic Republic of Pakistan at par with industrialized nations of the world who will be forced to toe our lines.
Mussarat