Faisalabad: December 30, 2014. (PCP) Professor Anjum James Paul Chairman PMTA received letter from Mr. Abdul Sattar, Director Human Rights Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights, Islamabad, F.No.2 (9) 2014-Dir (HR), Dated December 11, 2014 on the Subject: “REQUEST FOR HOLIDAYS TO THE MINORITY EMPLOYEES ON THEIR RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS” in which List of Optional Holidays and the way to avail them has been mentioned. The optional holidays are; 1. New Year Day 2. Basant Punchami 3. Giarhwin Sharief (11 Rabi-us-Sani) 4. Shivaratri 5. Holi 6. Dulhandi 7. Baisakhi 8. Good Friday 9. Easter/Day after Easter 10. Eid-e-Rizwan (Bahai’s community only) 11. Buddha Purnima 12. Shab-e-Meraj (27 Rajab) 13. Shab-e- Barat (15 Shaban) 14. Janam Ashtami 15. Nauroze 16. Birthday of the Lord Zoroaster (Khordad Sal) 17. Durga Pooja 18. Dussehra 19. Birthday of Guru Valmik Sawami ji 20. Diwal 21. Guru Nanak’s Birthday 22. Chelum (20 Safar) NOTE: In case of Muslim Festivals, the dates of optional holidays are based on anticipated dates and are subject to appearance of moon. • Government servants desiring to avail themselves of Optional Holidays shall take prior permission of the Head office concerned and no Government Servant shall be granted more than one optional holiday in the case of Muslim and three optional holidays in the case of non-Muslims, in a calendar year. • The grant of this concession should not result in any dislocation of work. In the case of Muslim optional holidays, the number of persons permitted o avail optional holidays should be regulated in a manner so as to leave adequate staff for proper continuance of the work. • The optional holidays are denominational and may be allowed at the discretion of the Head of Office, provided the state of work permits. • A Government Servant should not ordinarily be refused on Optional Holiday that is of religious significance to him and the refusal is likely to decrease the number of such holidays to which is entitled.