Punjab Issues New Rules for Approval of 89 Holidays – Government Policy Update 2026
The Government of Punjab has released updated rules for the approval of leave of up to 89 days for healthcare staff and government employees under teaching hospitals and medical institutions province-wide. These changes, outlined in official notifications on the Punjab Health & Population Department website, aim to centralize leave approvals and ensure consistent administrative oversight. The policy was published in the government notifications portal.
| Policy Element | Key Change |
|---|---|
| Leave Authority | Health Dept central approval |
| Up to 89 Days | Hospitals approve for Grades ≤17 |
| Senior Doctors | Direct Health Dept approval |
| General Cadre (18-20) | Approved by Health Dept |
| Maternity/Iddat Leave | Hospitals retain authority |
| Purpose | Standardize leave process |
| Official Source | Punjab government site |
| Govt Link | Official Government Notifications |
What Changed in the Leave Rules?
The Punjab government updated the leave approval process for public doctors and staff based on grade and authority. Under the new system, hospital administrations will now have limited powers for extended leaves, while the Health Department retains larger authority.
Details of the New Rule
- Hospital administrations may approve up to **89 days of leave** for employees up to Grade 17.
- For **senior registrars, assistant professors, associate professors, and professors**, leave applications must be approved by the Health & Population Department.
- Hospitals still retain the power to approve **maternity and iddat leave** locally.
Why Punjab Introduced These Rules
This policy update is meant to unify the leave approval procedure across all teaching hospitals and government medical institutions, ensuring uniformity in decision-making and better personnel management at the provincial level.
Who Is Affected?
- Doctors and medical staff in. government teaching hospitals
- General cadre employees from Grade 18 to 20
- Hospital administrators responsible for processing leave applications.
- Female employees seeking maternity or iddat leave.
Short Overview of Key Points
- Standardized Leave: Government-wide approval system.
- Centralized Oversight: Health Dept manages senior leave.
- Hospital Role: Hospital gives shorter leaves locally.
- Gender Leave: Maternity and iddat managed onsite.
Step-by-Step Policy Application
- Submit your leave application through hospital HR.
- If Grade ≤17, hospital may approve up to 89 days.
- If Grade 18 or higher, forward to Health & Population Department.
- Health Dept assesses and issues final approval or rejection.
- Hospital updates employee records based on decision.
- Staff maintain personal documentation of approvals.
- Compliance is reviewed through standard HR systems.
Official Government Source
For the full policy, details and future updates, visit the official Government of Punjab notifications page: Health & Population Department Notifications.
Helpline & Contact Information
If you need official verification or assistance:
- Punjab Health & Population Department Official Site: pshealthpunjab.gov.pk.
- General Contact: Visit the official site for updated phone numbers and email addresses.
- Office Address: Health & Population Department, Government of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
- Notifications Page: Official Government Notifications.
Conclusion
Punjab’s new rules for approval of up to 89 holidays are a key administrative update designed to streamline the leave approval system for government health sector employees. Under this structure, hospital authorities handle short to medium leaves, while the Health & Population Department centralizes approval for senior staff and extended leave durations. All information for this policy is sourced from the official Government of Punjab notifications portal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the “89 holidays” rules?
This refers to the maximum number of days that hospitals may approve for leave for staff up to Grade 17 under the new policy.
2. Who approves extended leave for senior doctors?
Extended leave for senior registrars, professors, and staff in higher grades must be approved by the Health & Population Department.
3. Does this policy affect maternity leave?
No — maternity and iddat leave remain under hospital authority.
4. Where can I see the official notification?
Official documentation is available on the Punjab Health & Population Department notifications page: Official Notifications.
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