Punjab issues new rules for approval of 89 holidays

2026-02-20 - 10:03

LAHORE – The Punjab Health Department has issued new directives regarding leave approval for medical staff across teaching hospitals and healthcare institutions. Under the new regulations, the authority to approve leave for senior doctors has been withdrawn from the hospital administrations. As per the new rules, teaching hospitals will only be authorized to approve 89 days of leave for employees up to Grade 17. For senior registrars through to professors, leave will now require approval from the Punjab Health Department officials. However, the hospitals will retain the authority to approve maternity and iddat (widow) leave for female doctors and staff members. In addition, all leave requests for general cadre doctors in Grades 18 to 20 will now be subject to approval by the Punjab Health Department. Previously, hospital heads had the authority to approve up to 89 days of leave for all doctors and government employees. Under the new changes, this power has been shifted to the provincial health authorities.