In the UK there are only 8 or 9 public holidays per year if I remember correctly.........



FPCCI protests against five Eid holidays

KARACHI: The business community of the country has sent a strong protest to the government against five consecutive holidays on the occasion of Eidul Fitr.

According to a press release issued here Thursday, Riaz Ahmad Tata, president, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has sent a letter to Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, the prime minister, against five consecutive holidays announced by the government for Eid.

The government has announced Eid-ul-Fitr holidays from November 26 to November, and as November 30 is a Sunday, a total of five consecutive holidays have been officially declared.

“Pakistan is a very poor country with low operational productivity and meagre exports,” said Mr Tata. “The business commitments, particularly for exports, have to be honoured as per contracts irrespective of local holidays. Unplanned and excessive holidays greatly disturb production and export schedule.”

On behalf of the business community in general and exporters in particular, Mr Tata strongly urged the prime minister to rationalise the number of public holidays to a maximum of 11 per annum to optimise production and export. —Staff Report