NOTED Islamic scholar and Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, while addressing a press conference in Karachi on Wednesday, touched upon various issues including defence of working of the moon sighting body. He also called upon Prime Minister Imran Khan to announce three days of Eidul Azha as public holidays.
Eidul Azha, in Pakistan, would be celebrated from Saturday to Monday but the Government announced public holidays from Friday to Sunday on the occasion. Inclusion of Friday is understandable as the decision is aimed at affording an opportunity to people especially employees of the government and the private sector to reach their destinations in time to celebrate the festival there. What the present government has done is nothing new as in the past as well offices opened on the third day of Eid after availing of three-day holidays by employees. The question arises why there should be concern about opening of offices on the third day of Eid when businesses usually remain open even during all the three days of Eid on the occasion of Eidul Azha and the lonely day of Eid on the occasion of Eidul Fitr. Otherwise too, Mufti Sahib need not be worried about employees as majority of them might have applied for leave for Monday and even beyond. We have been emphasizing in these columns that the culture of holidays needs to be discouraged and the culture of work promoted. We already have numerous religion-related or other holidays besides two weekly off- days and liberal casual and earned leaves. Employees remained away from offices this year for most of the days because of ongoing Covid-19 and, therefore, there was no justification for closure of offices for an extended period. It is strange that on the one hand we are demanding resumption of routine activities in all spheres of life but on the other hand wish more vacation on the occasion of Eid, over and above the three already announced.
