ISLAMABAD: The capital’s police have introduced a new leave policy to ease difficulties faced by officers and officials in obtaining leave and ensure, for the first time, that all personnel get at least one day of weekly rest, it emerged on Sunday.

According to an order issued by the Islamabad inspector general (IG), dated Oct 23 and available with Dawn, the policy delegates leave-sanctioning powers to officers at different levels and supersedes all previous instructions, including the leave policy issued in 2022.

The policy stipulates that at least one day of weekly rest must be provided to every officer and official, without counting it as leave.

Under the new rules, male police employees will ordinarily be entitled to 10 days’ marriage leave, while female personnel will be allowed one month, subject to approval by the competent authority.

“Officers and officials belonging to remote districts of Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan and erstwhile Fata, may opt for either one day of weekly rest or seven days’ rest after every 45 days of duty, or 14 days’ rest after every 90 days of duty,” the order read.

The policy places a 10 per cent ceiling on the number of personnel who can take casual leave at one time, while the combined limit for earned and ex-Pakistan leave is 3pc of the strength of a unit or office.

It also provides for maternity or paternity and medical leave, delegating powers for sanctioning such leaves according to rank.

Police personnel appearing in Central Superior Services or Provincial Civil Service examinations can be granted up to 20 days’ leave, while those appearing in interviews may receive up to 15 days, subject to approval.

However, the order clarified that leave cannot be claimed as a matter of right and may be refused or cancelled by the competent authority in the interest of the department or because of official exigencies.

The new policy has been prepared in consultation with officers of different ranks, with suggestions for further improvement invited through the proper channel.