While the federal cabinet has announced two-day weekly holiday under the energy conservation policy starting October 15, the Sindh government is yet to pronounce the decision, confusing millions of people on the work schedule for today (Saturday).
The two-day off decision was announced by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani after chairing a cabinet meeting recently, declaring that all administrative departments under the federal government and semi-government institutions will observe Saturday and Sunday as two weekly holidays from October 15. It was also stated that the provincial governments would take the final decision in the upcoming meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI).
However, neither the CCI meeting took place nor the Sindh cabinet made any announcement to remove the apprehensions of millions of office-goers, schoolchildren among other workers. The citizens meanwhile contacted offices of media organisations to inquire if Saturday would be a working day in Sindh or not. Reacting swiftly on the federal cabinet’s decision, the Punjab cabinet had met on Thursday and rejected the centre’s decision to observe two weekly holidays.
Though it is perceived that the Pakistan People’s Party-led Sindh government will follow the federal government’s decision, the delay in announcement of the provincial government’s stand on the issue reflects the commitment of the authorities concerned to solve the problems of the crises-stricken masses. Sources in the Sindh government told Pakistan Today that according to the Rules of Business, the provincial cabinet meets soon after the centre’s decision to announce its future course of action on the issue. “However, the chief minister, ministers and other government functionaries here are busy in doing politics.”
The sources were of the view that Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah had enough time on his hands to hold a meeting with his party’s parliamentarians at the Chief Minister’s House but did not bother to call a cabinet meeting for taking any decision on the two-day weekly holiday.
