LAHORE: the Punjab government has officially withdrawn its earlier order that cancelled all types of leave for government employees.
According to a new notification issued by the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), the instructions given in the previous letter dated May 7, 2025, have been cancelled with immediate effect.
The earlier order had suspended all kinds of leave for government officers in view of the recent ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India. However, this new decision means that government employees can now apply for leave as per normal rules.
The notification, signed by Deputy Secretary (I&C) Fahim Mukhtar, also stated that from now on, leave applications will be handled according to the Punjab Revised Leave Rules, 1981, and any amendments made to those rules from time to time.
Copies of the new instructions have been sent to senior government officials, including divisional and deputy commissioners, the Chief Minister’s Office, and the Inspector General of Police.
This move is expected to provide relief to many government employees who were affected by the earlier cancellation order.
Last week, several public schools in border districts such as Sialkot and Narowal were temporarily closed due to rising tensions along the Pakistan-India border. Government employees in these regions were also placed on high alert, and all leaves were previously suspended to ensure full administrative readiness.
In addition to the border districts, educational institutions across Punjab and Islamabad were closed on May 9 and 10 due to the prevailing security situation.
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The Punjab School Education Department announced that all public and private schools would remain closed during this period. Similarly, the Higher Education Department ordered the closure of all colleges and universities, except medical institutions, across the province. In Islamabad, the Federal Directorate of Education also directed the closure of schools and colleges on the same dates.
Several examinations were postponed as a result of these closures. In Punjab, the ninth-grade board exams scheduled for May 9 and 10 were deferred, with new dates to be announced later. In Islamabad, the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) postponed exams slated for May 9 and 10, citing security concerns.
