A COUNTRY like Pakistan, which is on the verge of economic crisis facing a galloping inflation and a budget deficit, cannot afford extended shutdowns for days to observe religious festivities, mourning death of politicians or on other irrelevant excuses.

Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country which in the past three decades has progressed from an underdeveloped nation to a major financial centre in the Far East through sheer hard work and a leadership which focused on developing human resources by investment on education, health and social sectors.

Law and order is strictly maintained and no individual, howsoever powerful, can get away with a crime or even a minor violation of the law.

This Eidul Fitr was on Aug 19 in Malaysia. There was only one official holiday for Eid and since it occurred on Sunday, all government offices, banks, airline offices, etc., opened on Monday for business as usual.

The only exception was the Pakistan International Airline office which was closed and so was the Pakistan embassy.

Unfortunately, Pakistanis try to emulate the lives of oil-rich Arab countries, observing extended religious holidays.

Malaysian Muslims are very devout, yet there has never been a sectarian strife in this country.

Unfortunately, in utter disregard of the Quaid’s vision, Pakistan has degenerated into a country addicted to holidays, corruption, nepotism and poor governance, to say the least.

The foremost to set this pace of deterioration are corrupt civil servants and others who have made a mockery and excuse for declaring holidays, totally oblivious to the negative impact on our GDP, which is at its worst.

MIR TASSADAQ Lahore