Govt issues third notification on holiday in Islamabad; clears confusion

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad authorities on Friday issued a fresh notification declaring a local holiday in the federal capital on December 26, following confusion caused by two earlier notifications on the same matter.

According to the latest notification, all federal government offices in Islamabad will remain closed on Friday. The government has officially withdrawn the previous explanatory notification and replaced it with the new directive, making this the third notification issued regarding the holiday.

Earlier, the first notification had announced a holiday, while a second notification later described it as a partial holiday, leading to uncertainty among government employees and the public.

The latest clarification states that despite the closure of federal offices, essential and service-related departments will continue to function. These include hospitals, banks, essential services offices, the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), and the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

In addition, the district administration, police, Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) offices will remain open to ensure uninterrupted public services.

Authorities say the revised notification aims to remove ambiguity and ensure smooth functioning of essential services while observing the local holiday.