There is serious concern that the annual gazetted holidays, which were earlier reduced from 14 to 11 by the government in the year 1999, are on the rise again gradually.
We all know that the increase in annual holidays is not in the best interests of either the public or the private sector's industrial and commercial organisations.
Pakistan's economy cannot afford this luxury as it has to become internationally competitive, especially as it has to face the challenges of the WTO regime, ensuing stiff competition with other more productive regional economies.
There is also a trend to declare local holidays for one reason or the other, which we can ill-afford.
This must be eschewed in the interests of industrial production, industrial peace and harmony. To top it they are usually announced at the eleventh hour, which causes confusion and disharmony and must be avoided.
We hope everyone becomes desirous of improving our economy with hard work and improved productivity and that they will agree to a strategy for maintaining a minimum number of national holidays.
(The writer is Secretary General Employers' Federation of Pakistan)
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