PESHAWAR: The business community has expressed serious reservations over the enhanced bank holidays on Eidul Fitr and demanded of the federal government to reduce the leave.

In a statement issued here, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry`s former senior vice president Ziaul Haq Sarhadi demanded of the government to announce only two holidays for banks, otherwise traders and industrialists would be unable to fulfill their business commitments.

Mr Sarhadi, who is also provincial president of Frontier Customs Agents Group, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said the bank holiday on Saturday had already stressed out the local economy because of suspension of operations at dry ports, airports and banks, causing huge financial losses to not only the business community but also the national exchequer.

He said the disappointing role of different economic sector departments and poor exports were enough for the government to focus on improving the economy andavoiding long public holidays.

He said the government should reconsider its decision and approve only two bank holidays on Eid, otherwise the business community would suffer.

Besides, the businessman suggested that there was no need for holiday on Saturday as more working days meant increased revenue generation by the public and private sectors, positively impacting the overall economy.

Mr Sarhadi urged the government to revert to the previous six day a week schedule so that businessmen could meet their targets of exports and imports. He said an extra working day would also help labourers increase their incomes.

Another businessman, Naseer Khan, said as ATM machines at banks had already stopped functioning enhanced bank holidays would create serious financial problems for public. He said due to failure of ATM system people could not do Eid shopping. He demanded a probe into the matter and punishment for those responsible. Bureau Report