PESHAWAR, Nov 29: The government employees are to resume their duties at their respective departments on Monday after enjoying nine holidays in lieu of Eidul Fitr.

The government had announced Eid holidays from Nov 25 to 29 but most of the employees had left for their hometowns on Nov 21 (Friday) to make preparations for Eid festivities. Every year, a number of government employees leave the provincial metropolis for their hometowns as Eidul Fitr approaches.

Still, some of the employees, such as those working in hospitals, police, radio, TV, Wapda and telecommunications department, etc., are not as lucky as their counterparts in other departments, because they are given only a couple of holidays.

“I have not enjoyed a single holiday in Eidul Fitr and remained busy in my duty throughout the festivity,” said a senior producer at the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), Peshawar Centre. According to him, they are not compensated by the authorities concerned for their duties during Eid, whereas the people in other departments enjoy Eid with their families.

Similarly, health workers at the hospitals, specially those posted at the big health facilities, had to remain contented with only one or two holidays.

“We and the other servants have been employed and paid by the same government, yet we pass Eid in the hospital, while the others are away for more than a week,” said Mohammad Saeed Khan, an ECG technician at a city hospital. According to him, they also never availed gazetted holidays like the other employees.

The police department employees are the worst sufferers as most of them perform their duties during Eid. A policeman said: “During Eid, our responsibilities increase as we have to take extra care to prevent the occurrence of crimes and look after the vacant homes of the people who proceed to their hometowns to celebrate Eid with their families.”

Wapda and telephone employees also complain of the non-availability of holidays to them during Eid.