KARACHI: A notification by the Sindh government’s labour and human resources department on Wednesday calling holiday on Holi “only” for Hindu workers created confusion hours before the March 24 public holiday and invited intervention from higher authorities to withdraw the fresh orders, officials said.

The Sindh government last week notified March 24 as a public holiday throughout the province on the Hindu festival.

However, the labour and human resources department issued a notification on Wednesday which said: “The Sindh government is pleased to declare March 24 as public holiday on the occasion of Holi, religious festival of Hindu community and shall be observed by all the Hindu workers only in the province of Sindh.”

With the new notification causing confusion, the chief secretary intervened for withdrawal of the labour and human resources department’s notification.

“Announcement of public holiday in the province is discretionary power of the chief minister,” said a CM House spokesman. “The chief minister announced the public holiday across the province which cannot be reversed without his authority. The labour and human resources department’s notification has been withdrawn on directives of the chief secretary so the announcement of March 24 public holiday stands valid with no change in its status.”

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2016