- The Cabinet Division has released a list of public, optional holidays.
- Holidays when the moon is visible.
- A government servant will require prior permission for discretionary leave.
The federal government on Monday issued a notification for the schedule of official and optional holidays for the calendar year 2025 on days of national importance, Muslim and minority festivals.
As 2024 approaches, the Cabinet Division has issued a notification containing the complete list of holidays to be celebrated next year.
For Muslim festivals, it said, the dates of holidays will be based on expected dates and subject to moon sighting for which a separate notification will be issued by the division.
Thereafter, no discretionary leave shall be granted to any Government servant without the prior permission of the Head of the Institution concerned.
Further, no Government servant shall be granted more than one discretionary leave in the case of Muslims and three optional holidays in the case of non-Muslims in a calendar year.
“Granting this concession should not result in any displacement of work,” it added.
The notification states that in the case of Muslim optional holidays, the number of persons allowed to avail the optional holidays should be regulated in such a way that adequate staff is available to carry on the work properly.
“Discretionary holidays are communal and may be granted at the discretion of the head of the organization, provided that work is not impaired,” he said, adding: “A government employee is generally denied discretionary leave of religious significance. Shouldn’t be done.”
The complete list of holidays is given below.