Five-Day Work Week: AG would be on federal timetable

Punjab AG is a federal officer and would have to follow the federal government’s timetable and close on Saturdays

LAHORE: Even if the Punjab government rejects a second weekly holiday, its functions will be hampered by the closure on Saturdays of the Punjab Accountant General’s Office, which is a federal office. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday that the Punjab government would not follow the federal cabinet’s decision to start a second weekly holiday as an energy saving measure. But the Punjab accountant general is a federal officer and hence would have to follow the federal government’s timetable and close on Saturdays. The function of the accountant general’s office is to clear cheques and bills. All districts and provincial government departments rely on the office. “It will cause delays in the processing of bills and payments,” said a Punjab government official. Punjab government spokesman Pervaiz Rasheed was not available for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2011.