ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government is considering abolishing Saturday as a weekly day off in order to reinstate a six-day work week in government offices.
According to local media reports, the Cabinet Division has requested input from all ministries, which will then be presented to the federal cabinet for a final decision. It is reported that the desired outcomes were not met by observing a five-day work week in government offices.
It’s worth noting that in 2022, the federal cabinet approved a two-day weekend for government offices as part of an energy conservation plan, due to the country’s ongoing energy crisis, particularly exacerbated during the summer season.
Sources close to the Cabinet Division have indicated that the matter of abolishing the Saturday off-day will be discussed during a cabinet meeting following the Eid ul Adha holidays.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led previous government had restored a weekly off on Saturday for government offices as part of the energy conservation plan. Moreover, protests by government employees compelled the government to take back its decision to reinstate the six-day work week, which was initially taken in May 2022.
