Government of Pakistan notifies the public and optional holidays for the year 2019

Chitral Times Report

PESHAWAR: The Government of Pakistan Ministry of Interior has through a circular notified public & optional holidays for the years 2019. The public and optional holidays regarding festivals of Muslims and Minorities Holidays for the calendar years 2019 would be as under  Kashmir Day 5 February, Pakistan day 23^rdMarch,  Labour day 1^st May, Eidul Fatr (1^st  Shawal 1440 AH) 5^th , 6^th and 7^th June, Eidul Azha (10^th Zilhaj 1440 AH), 12^th , 13^th and 14^th August, Independence Day 14^th August, Ashura 9^th and 10^th September, Eid Milad-ul-Nabi (12 Rabi-ul-Awal 1441 AH) 11^th November, Quaid-e-Azam Day 25^thDecember, Christmas 25^th December and day  after Christmas 26^th December 2019 (for Christian only). The following will be Bank Holidays however, on these days The Banks will remain closed for public but not for their Employees, Tuesday January 1^st 2019, Wednesday May 7^th (Corresponding to 1^stRamadan AH 1440 Subject to appearance of moon) and Monday July 1^st. 2019. Optional Holidays will be as follow:- new year day 1^st January, Basant punchami, 9^th February, Shiv Ratri, 4^th March, Holly 21^st March, Shab-e-Meraj (27 Rajab 1440 AH) 4^th April, Basakhi Fastival 14^th April, Good Friday 19^thApril, Eid-e-Rizwan (Bahai’s Community only) 21^st April, Shab-e-barat (15 Shaban 1440 AH) 21^st April, Easter 21^st April, Day after Easter 22^nd April, Buddha pumima 18^th May, Nauroze (Parsi New year day) 17^th August, Birth day of Lord Zoroaster (Khordad sal) 22^nd  August, Krishna janam Ashtami 24^thAugust, Durga Puja 6^th October, Dussehra 8^th October, Birthday Guru Valmik Sawami jee 13^th October, Diwali 27^th October, Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev jee 12^th November, Chelum(20 Safar 1440 A.H) 20^th November, Giyarvhee Sharief (11 Rabi-us-Sani 1440 A.H 9^th December.

In case of Muslim Festivals, the dates of Holidays are based on anticipated dates and are subject to appearance of Moon for which a separate Notification will be issued by Ministry of Interior. Government servant deserving to avail themselves of optional holidays shall take prior permission  of the Head of Office concerned and no Government Servant shall be granted more than one Optional Holiday in the case of Muslims and three optional Holidays for Non-Muslims in a Calendar Year-2019. The grant of this concession should not result in any dislocation of work. In the case of Muslim Optional Holidays, the number of persons permitted to avail Optional Holidays should be regulated in a manner so as to adequate staff is available for proper continuance of the work. The optional Holidays are denominational and may be allowed at the discretion of the Head of Office, provided that work is not suffered. A Government Servant should not ordinarily be refused an Optional Holiday that is of religious significance to him and the refusal is likely to decrease the number of such holidays to which she/he is entitled. It was announced notified Establishment Department of Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through a circular.