Prominent MNA in Pakistan, Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani has requested the Prime Minister of Pakistan and provincial chief ministers for taking action on timely announcement of advance salaries and public holiday for Hindu employees on the occasion of Holi festival, which will fall on March 25, 2024. 

Dr. Vankwani, who is also Patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council, in his letter, copy of which is sent to federal secretaries and provincial chief secretaries, wrote: “Being Patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council, Member of National Assembly and Member of Supreme Court Commission on Minorities, I would like to bring this in to your kind notice that the Holi, the most important festival for Hindu community, will be occurred on 25th March, 2024.” 

“My resolution, in this regard, is already passed in the National Assembly that there should be public holiday on religious festivals of respective minority community,” he further stated, emphasizing that “the government employees, belonging to Hindu dharma, working at federal and provincial levels, are in dire need of advance salary to celebrate the Holi festival with religious zeal and fervour. Dr. Vankwani requested the concerned departments for timely announcement of public holiday and release of advanced salary to all Hindu employees. 

 

Dr. Vankwani requested the concerned departments for timely announcement of public holiday and release of advanced salary to all Hindu employees. 

He had presented the resolution in March 2016 which said: “This house is of the opinion that the government should take steps to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as closed holidays for minorities.” 

According to him, this good gesture was inevitable for the positive image of Pakistan as such holidays were also being observed in many other countries, including the United States on Eid, and in India on Muharram.