Thin attendance in offices as non-locals still on leave

Islamabad: As if the festivity is not over yet, the government offices in Islamabad literally wore a deserted look on Thursday, the first working day after three official Eidul Fitr holidays.

And even those, who were in attendance, spent most of their time chatting away about their activities on Eid as well as current political happenings, especially the Joint Investigation Team’s probe into Panama Leaks case.

They said things would be normal on Monday only. The government had announced three Eid holidays from Monday to Wednesday but many of its employees have taken holidays for Thursday and Friday to stay away from duty for more than a week.

Also on Friday, the last working day before Eid, thin attendance was reported in government offices as the employees, mostly non-locals, left for hometowns to celebrate Eid and those present on duty left premises early to get ready for the prayer of ‘Jummatul Wida’, the sacred last Friday of the fasting month of Ramazan.

An official told ‘The News’ at the Pak Secretariat that his office was empty as many of its employees had taken additional holidays for Thursday and Friday to make the most of the post-Ramazan religious festival.

He said many of his colleagues had gone either to hometowns or on excursion to hill stations, including Murree, Abbottabad, Swat, Kaghan and Naran.

“Thin attendance in offices will end at the start of next week i.e. on Monday,” he said. An official of the labour ministry said most staff members present on duty on Thursday were local residents.  He said holidaymakers would return to work on Monday and thus, restoring normalcy in offices.

Article source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/213458-Thin-attendance-in-offices-as-non-locals-still-on-leave