Business Owners Criticize PM Shehbaz for Unexpected May 28 Holiday Announcement
Business leaders criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for declaring an “unnecessary and abrupt” public holiday for Youm-e-Takbir, saying it harms businesses and the economy. They argue that the sudden holiday disrupts scheduled deals and meetings.
In comments to The Express Tribune, business representatives noted that many transactions were close to completion when the announcement was made. They suggested the government should have either canceled the holiday or limited it to schools, keeping government offices and banks open.
Khurram Schehzad, CEO of Alpha Beta Core, highlighted the negative economic impact of additional holidays, stating that even one holiday can cost the economy $1.1 to $1.3 billion annually. He emphasized that these disruptions hurt an already low-productivity economy.
Muhammad Najib Balagamwala, Chairman of Seatrade Group, likened the additional holidays to those on Eid, criticizing politicians and bureaucrats for harming the economy with their lack of productivity.
Nabi Bux Sathio, Senior Vice President of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, condemned the holiday as pointless, saying it disrespects taxpayers and disrupts essential services like surgeries in hospitals and court proceedings. He suggested the prime minister focus on preventing power outages, especially during extreme heat.
Ismail Suttar, President of the Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry, acknowledged the significance of Youm-e-Takbir but argued that the country cannot afford holidays that disrupt the private and banking sectors. He stressed the urgency of addressing economic challenges and warned that excessive holidays could worsen the economic crisis.
