Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan always provide and protect basic rights to all minorities. A few important Islamic days are also regarded as optional holidays for Muslims too.
A limited number of optional holidays are granted to workers. Government employees may be granted one optional holiday in case of Muslims, and three optional holidays in case of Non-Muslims in a calendar year.
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 he is entitled.
Government Servants desiring to avail themselves of Optional Holidays shall take prior permission of the Head of the Office concerned. The Optional Holidays are denominational and may be allowed at the discretion of the Head of Office, provided the state of work permit.
The grant of this concession should not result in any dislocation of work. In the case of Muslims optional holidays, the number of persons permitted to avail optional holidays should be regulated in such a manner so as to leave adequate staff for the proper continuance of work.
Following is a circular of Government of Pakistan regarding Optional Holidays:
Sr.
No.
|
Name
of Occasion
|
Dates
|
Details
|
1
|
Shab-e-Meraj
|
27th Rajab
|
In
the remembrance of the journey of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) to heavens. Details
are given in Surah Al-Isra of Quran-e-Pak and Hadith.
|
2
|
Shab-e-Barat
|
15th Shaban
|
It
is regarded as a night when the fortunes of men for the coming year are decided and when God may forgive sinners.
|
3
|
Chehlum
|
20th Safar
|
It
is a Shia Muslim religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of
Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (RA)
|
4
|
New
Year Day
|
1st January
|
|
5
|
Good
Friday
|
It
is observed on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday
|
|
6
|
Easter
|
Variable
date. On a Sunday of April each year
|
|
7
|
Eid-e-Rizwan
(Bahai’s Community Only)
|
21st April
|
|
8
|
Nouroze
(parsi’s New Year Day)
|
Usually
on 21 March
(May
also be on 20 or 22 March)
|
|
9
|
Buddha
Purnima
|
30th
April
|
|
10
|
Birthday
of Lord Zoroaster (Khordad Sal)
|
In
August
|
|
11
|
Guru
Nanak’s Birthday
|
On
the full-moon day in the Punjabi month of Katak, (October–November)
|
Guru
Nanak (29 November 1469 – 10 October 1539) was the founder of Sikhism
|
12
|
Birthday
of Guru Valmiki Swami Ji
|
In
october
|
He
is the author of Ramayana. Also known as Adi Kawi (first poet).
|
13
|
Basant
Punchami
|
Vasant
Panchami is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Hindu luni-solar
calendar month of Magha, which typically falls in late January or February.
|
|
14
|
Shivaratri
|
13th
night/14th day of Hindu month Magha (February/March, )
|
|
15
|
Holi
|
Starting
on the evening of the Full Moon day falling in the Hindu Calendar month of
Phalgun (which falls somewhere between the end of February and the middle of
March)
|
|
16
|
Dhulandi
|
In
March
|
|
17
|
Baisakhi/
Vaisakhi
|
14th April.
It
is a historical and religious festival in Sikhism and Hinduism which is usually celebrated on 13 or 14 April every year.
|
|
18
|
Janam
Ashtami
|
on
the eighth day in the month of Bhadrapad of the Hindu Calendar (in August or
September)
|
|
19
|
Durga
Puja
|
It
is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin (typically September or
October)
|
|
20
|
Dussehra
|
It
is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin (which
typically falls in the months of September and October)
|
|
21
|
Diwali
|
One
of the most popular festivals of Hinduism which generally falls between
mid-October and mid-November.
|
