Islamabad Police introduces new leave policy, guarantees weekly rest for all personnel

Islamabad Police has introduced a revised leave policy aimed at easing difficulties faced by officers and officials in obtaining time off while ensuring that every member of the force receives at least one day of weekly rest.

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police has introduced a revised leave policy aimed at easing difficulties faced by officers and officials in obtaining time off while ensuring that every member of the force receives at least one day of weekly rest.

The policy was issued through an order dated October 23 by the Inspector General of Islamabad Police. According to sources the new instructions delegate authority to approve leave to officers at different ranks and replace all previous directives including the policy introduced in 2022.

Under the revised rules weekly rest will be provided separately from regular leave ensuring that personnel receive at least one day off each week.

The policy also establishes specific provisions for marriage leave. Male police employees will generally be eligible for 10 days while female personnel may receive one month subject to approval by the relevant authority.

Officers posted away from their home districts in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as those from Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan and the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) will have additional options. They may choose one day of weekly rest or take seven days off after every 45 days of duty or 14 days after completing 90 days of service as outlined in the order.

The policy also sets limits on how many employees can take leave simultaneously. Casual leave will be restricted to 10 per cent of personnel at a time while earned leave and leave for travel outside Pakistan will have a combined limit of three per cent of a unit’s or office’s workforce.

Provisions for maternity paternity and medical leave have also been included with approval powers assigned according to the rank of the relevant officers.

Police personnel appearing in Central Superior Services or Provincial Civil Service examinations may receive up to 20 days of leave. Those attending interviews may be granted up to 15 days subject to approval.

However the order makes clear that leave is not an automatic entitlement and may be refused or cancelled by the competent authority when departmental requirements or urgent official duties demand it.

The revised policy was developed after consultations with officers from different ranks. Islamabad Police has also invited further recommendations through official channels to improve the arrangements.