G-B exempts health, education departments from local holidays

GILGIT: In pursuance of the decision taken in the 15th Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Cabinet meeting, the G-B government has exempted education and health departments from all local holidays.

According to a notification issued by G-B General Administration Department, School education, health and higher, technical and special education departments have been exempted from all local holidays.

The decision faces strong opposition from various sectors of society. The Young Doctors Association, Pakistan Medical Association, and Para Medical Association have condemned the government’s move.

In a joint statement, the associations said that the decision would put an additional burden on healthcare workers who are already working tirelessly. They argued that canceling local holidays was only justified in times of national emergency or crisis, which is not the case in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The associations demanded the government immediately withdraw the notification and restore local holidays. They warned that if the government fails to revoke the decision, they would be forced to boycott OPD services in all hospitals across the region during local holidays.

Dr Muhammad Mushtaq, spokesperson for the Young Doctors Association, said the decision was an attempt to divert attention from the government’s own failures in improving the education and healthcare sectors.

“The government should focus on addressing the real issues faced by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, rather than taking unnecessary decisions,” he said.

The associations also pointed out that the government’s decision was a “joke” and that healthcare workers were already working 24/7, 365 days a year.

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The association also pointed out that the decision was a clear violation of the rights of healthcare workers, who were already working in challenging conditions.

They demanded that the government take immediate action to address the grievances of healthcare workers and restore local holidays.

Naemuddin Sulaiman, President of Anjuman-e-Imamia, Danyore, sai “the government should work sensibly and address the real issues faced by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, including the shortage of electricity, internet services, and poor education system”. He said the government should take action against the illegal activities of non-local individuals in the name of mineral leases, and address the grievances of employees in various departments. “We strongly condemn the cancellation of local holidays, which are an essential part of our national identity, and demand that the government withdraw the notification immediately,” he added.

Member of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health, Syed Suhail Abbas Shah, said the cancellation of local holidays was a regrettable and condemnable. “Improving governance and standards is the only way to bring about improvement in the education and health sectors,” he said.

Shah urged the government to focus on addressing the real issues faced by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan instead of taking unnecessary decisions.

“The government is taking such non-serious actions to hide its own failures, which are causing unrest and anxiety in the region. Therefore, the provincial government should make serious decisions, keeping in view the public issues, so that the education and health sectors can progress further in the region,” he added. He termed the cabinet’s decision tantamount to a joke.

“Such actions can only be taken in extreme national emergencies or crisis situations, but thankfully, Gilgit-Baltistan is not facing any such situation,” he added.

The member G-B Assembly said at a time when the whole world was affected by the coronavirus and doctors and paramedical staff were working day and night to fight the virus, instead of paying tribute to their selfless services, such notifications are an excess against the doctors and small staff of Gilgit-Baltistan.

“The government should immediately cancel such notifications and issue notifications for the restoration of holidays,” Shah added.