KARACHI, Dec 2: A large number of representative bodies of exporters have expressed their grave concern over the proposal of reverting to Friday as weekly holiday. There is a general fear that this would result in loss of three working days as Saturday and Sunday are observed as weekly holidays in countries to which the exports land.

Exporters strongly feel that the issue, which had been settled once for all, has been risen for no valid ground as the Quran does not bind the faithful to have a closed holiday on Friday.

Consequently, if Friday is observed as closed weekly holiday, exporters will be out of contact with the rest of the world for three complete days which would be disastrous for country’s external trade of $20 billion.

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) chairman Anjum Saleem said that decision to make Friday a weekly holiday will be disastrous for the country’s exports.

He said Exporters have to be in regular contact with customers, banks and other organizations related to international trade. If Friday is declared as a weekly holiday, exporters and importers will be out of contact with their trading partners for three complete days i.e. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The APTMA chief emphasized that businessmen, particularly exporters, in order to be competitive, have to conform to the international norms of trade and commerce, which require continuous and instantaneous communication between exporters, importers and middlemen.

Above all, he said, all industrial establishments and their offices have mosques and facilities for offering Friday prayers and other daily prayers, therefore, there is no reason or justification for declaring Friday as a close holiday.

He further said that the industry is fully supportive of the government’s concern to promote Islamic values, however, confusing Islamization with mere symbolism such as weekly Friday holiday, should be refrained as it would isolate the country from international trade and commerce which it can ill-afford in a fiercely competitive global environment.

Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PLGMEA) Fawad Ijaz Khan has also strongly objected to the suggestion of declaring Friday as a weekly holiday.

He requested Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali not to bow to the pressures in declaring Friday as weekly holiday as it will be against the national interest.

Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association (PBEA) chairman Aziz Jamal expressed his resentment over the proposal of declaring Friday as weekly. He said such a decision will result in irrparable loss to the country’s exports in particular and external trade as a whole.

The ex-chairman PBEA Shabir Ahmed pointed out that when Friday is a working day, it is witnessed that faithful turn up more in number to offer their Friday prayers. In the past when Friday used to be a close weekly holiday, the people either would go for picnic or stay in their beds till mid-day.

He strongly opposed any move to change weekly holiday from Sunday to Friday, as it will have a damaging blow for the economy.