Government employees to get advance salary ahead of Eid ul Fitr

Government employees to get advance salary ahead of Eid ul Fitr. The Government of Sindh Thursday announced releasing the salaries of Muslim government employees in advance ahead of Eid ul Fitr — a religious event that is celebrated across the world.

“…full pay and allowances/full pension for the month of April, shall be paid in advance to all Muslim employees/pensioners of Provincial Government of Sindh (including work-charged and contingent paid establishment),” a notification from the finance department read.

The salaries and pensions will be released on April 17 instead of May 2, the notification added, noting that Eid is expected to fall on either April 21 or April 22.

The move comes as Pakistanis deal with historic high inflation, which has forced several to forego even essential edible items. The nation is struggling to secure external financing as well, with the looming threat of default hanging over it.

Read more: Two Pakistani films set to hit theaters on Eid-ul-Azha

While the Sindh government has announced a public holiday on account of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s “martyrdom anniversary”, a notification said Thursday.

“The Government of Sindh declares 4 April, 2023 (Tuesday) as a Public Holiday on the occasion of 44th Martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto”, Ex-Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, throughout the Province of Sindh,” a notification said.

In line with the notification, all offices, autonomous, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations and local councils are under the administrative control of the provincial government of Sindh — except essential services — will remain closed.

Born on January 5, 1928, Bhutto was a seasoned politician and formed the Pakistan People’s Party — now being led by his maternal grandson, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari — on November 30, 1967.

Bhutto was hanged after a controversial trial on April 4, 1979, almost two years after General Ziaul Haq imposed martial law and overthrew his government.

PPP has termed his death “judicial murder”.