11-day Eid-ul-Fitr vacation on the cards for govt employees

Taking leaves of absence on Mar 27 and Apr 3 can stretch out their holiday period

If government employees take a leave of absence the day after Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, they will be able to spend nine straight days’ vacation; while adding another day off before cut off will make it 11 days on the trot.

The government announced holidays projecting Eid to be on Mar 31, a Monday.

Mar 29, 30, Apr 1 and 2 have been declared holidays per an executive order.

Mar 28, however, is a Friday and also the Islamic holy night of Shab-e-Qadr, or Laylat-ul-Qadr.

So all government employees will spend Eid vacation for six days from Mar 28-Apr 2. But Apr 3 is a Thursday, followed by the weekend. A leave on Apr 3 would add three more days to the vacation, making it nine consecutive days.

Also, the last day for their office before is Mar 27, preceded by the government holiday of Mar 26. So another day off on Mar 27 would add two more days to the total and potentially make it a lengthy time away from office for government employees.

The rules stipulate that taking casual leave between two holidays would render the entire period as leave. But an opportunity to exercise earned leave is there.