Sindh govt announces public holiday on February 19
Listen to article
The Sindh government has announced a public holiday on February 19 in observance of the annual Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
According to a notification issued by the Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department, the holiday will be observed on Wednesday, February 19, in celebration of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's Urs.
The notification states that all government and semi-government offices, as well as educational institutions, will remain closed on the specified day.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Sindh govt announces four holidays on Eid-ul-Adha
The Sindh government on Thursday declared a four-day public holiday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, starting from Friday, June 6 to Monday, June 9, 2025. According to a notification issued by the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department, the holidays will apply to all government offices, autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, and local councils operating under the administrative control of the provincial government. 'The Government of Sindh declares 06th to 09th June, 2025 (Friday to Monday) as Public Holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha 2025 throughout the Province of Sindh,' read the notification signed by Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah. However, the order clarified that essential services will remain operational during this period. The notification has been circulated to all relevant government departments, including law enforcement, revenue, planning, and local government institutions, to ensure compliance. Eid-ul-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, is one of the most significant Islamic festivals, marked by communal prayers, the ritual sacrifice of animals, and the distribution of meat among family, friends, and the underprivileged. The federal government has already announced a four-day public holiday on Eid from June 6 to 9. It should be noted that the first day of Zil Hajj will fall on Thursday, May 29, 2025, while Eid-ul-Adha will be observed on Saturday, June 7.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Sindh govt announces Eid-ul-Adha holidays from June 6 to 9
The Sindh government on Thursday declared a four-day public holiday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, starting from Friday, June 6 to Monday, June 9, 2025. According to a notification issued by the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department, the holidays will apply to all government offices, autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, and local councils operating under the administrative control of the provincial government. 'The Government of Sindh declares 06th to 09th June, 2025 (Friday to Monday) as Public Holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha 2025 throughout the Province of Sindh,' read the notification signed by Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah. However, the order clarified that essential services will remain operational during this period. The notification has been circulated to all relevant government departments, including law enforcement, revenue, planning, and local government institutions, to ensure compliance. Eid-ul-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, is one of the most significant Islamic festivals, marked by communal prayers, the ritual sacrifice of animals, and the distribution of meat among family, friends, and the underprivileged. The federal government has already announced a four-day public holiday on Eid from June 6 to 9. It should be noted that the first day of Zil Hajj will fall on Thursday, May 29, 2025, while Eid-ul-Adha will be observed on Saturday, June 7.
Business Recorder
21-05-2025
- Business Recorder
Pakistan's IT, ITeS sector: P@SHA underscores need for consistent tax policy
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has strongly recommended a consistent tax policy with no changes in the tax structure of IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) sector in the Federal Budget 2025-26. Addressing at a press conference here on Tuesday, Sajjad Mustafa Syed, Chairman P@SHA stated that the government must ensure policy stability and tax clarity for the IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) sector in 2025–26. As a cornerstone of Pakistan's digital economy, the IT industry has demonstrated resilience amid economic turbulence, contributing USD 3.2 billion in exports in 2023–24, and is projected to close the current fiscal year at nearly USD 4 billion. Forecasts estimate a USD 15 billion export potential by 2030. Despite these promising numbers, policy inconsistency, ad hoc taxation, and operational challenges continue to undermine investor confidence and economic contributions, he regretted. Policy stability is essential for sustaining the momentum we've recently achieved. The recent DFDI event alone resulted in over USD 700 million in investment commitments — of which USD 600 million was facilitated by P@SHA, he said. Frequent changes in tax laws — whether related to export incentives, withholding taxes, or other fiscal instruments — discourage long-term investment. The lack of predictability threatens to undo the combined efforts of public and private sector stakeholders, including MOITT, PSEB, SIFC, and TDAP. If investor confidence is shaken, Pakistan risks forfeiting years of progress, including advances in branding, skill development, and digital infrastructure, he added. 'We are not asking for exemptions that jeopardize international obligations. However, if our practical, fair recommendations are implemented in both letter and spirit, Pakistan's IT sector can contribute substantially more to national growth,' Sajjad said. He recommended there is a critical need to align tax treatment between employees of IT firms and independent remote workers. The P@SHA urged the government to formally define remote workers in the Income Tax Ordinance (2001). The proposed classification applies to individuals earning over Rs 2.5 million annually through foreign remittances or working with fewer than three international clients, taxing them similarly to salaried individuals. This recommendation aims to expand the tax base while leveling the playing field. The current disparity creates an uneven labor market where it's more cost-effective for global companies to hire Pakistani talent directly rather than through local firms. As a result, local IT businesses lose both competitiveness and valuable export revenue. A clear and fair framework will bring transparency for taxpayers and authorities alike and help protect Pakistan's economic interests. IT firms, especially call centres and BPOs, operate on narrow margins, have service level agreements and cannot afford such disruptions. Legislation must be enacted to shield them from outdated and misaligned labor regulations. Until reforms are complete, temporary exemptions must be provided to IT companies from EOBI and other arcane labor laws. Despite being one of the region's lowest revenue-per-employee markets, Pakistan's IT sector employs a massive formal workforce of over 600,000. The sector's resilience is remarkable, bearing some of the highest input costs, yet continuing to grow. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
