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WEEKEND CHANGE
Most of the world nations have termed it a “positive move.” and
now is time for Afghanistan!

8/9/2012

BY: ULFAT YOUSAFZAI

WEEKEND CHANGE

Afghanistan needs strong business relations with other countries and time is a significant factor
in business deals and we have lost many businesses as a result of the time difference.
Afghani businessmen, academics and executives should call upon authorities to consider
changing weekly holidays to Friday and Saturday saying the move would be essential in order to
promote the Afghanistan’s international business relations.

There are more economic benefits to making Friday and Saturday the weekend and it would
not contravene religion and tradition. Making Friday and Saturday the weekend holiday does
not go against our religion. Afghanistan would not be the first Muslim nation to come with this
weekend change. A number of Muslim countries such as, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab
Emirates have changed their official weekly holidays to Fridays and Saturdays from Thursdays
and Fridays.

Thursday can be made a full working day so we can stay connected with the rest of the world.
When Afghans take Thursdays and Fridays off, much of the world is working. When much of the
world takes Saturday and Sunday off, Afghans are working. If you want to send a wire transfer
back home, for four days of the week it is common for either the sending bank or the receiving
bank to be closed. It is important in the era of globalization to be linked with the rest of world
as much as possible. This change will increase commercial trade and reflect positively on the
private sector.

Afghan officials at local banks also agrees that it would be better to change the weekend as it
would have a positive effect on the stock market, financial and banking sector. A full day of
work on Thursday will keep us connected with the international stock market, which is positive
especially for the private sector.

Export in Afghanistan has decreased considerably in the last three years perhaps, the reason
beyond this is that most of Afghan export companies continue to face challenges in accessing
world markets and one of the major challenges is shortage of working days in Afghanistan.
Afghan private sector paperwork is highly dependent on government sector especially in

PAGE I

processing transit paper work. There are also calls for the government sector to move the
weekend because much private sector paperwork is not completed on Thursday and businesses
have to wait until Saturday when government departments reopen.

Currently, Afghanistan is disconnected from the rest of the world for four days, in Afghanistan
we have Thursday and Friday as our weekend whereas, the world has Saturday and Sunday off.
This is harming our international trade both in export and import sectors. Furthermore, It
affects our global competitiveness and puts downward pressure on Afghanistan productivity
and hence GDP.

By changing the weekend, we will reduce the number of dead days to three. Consequently, the
change will benefit our industries and businesses as well as educational and medical
institutions.

Most of the world nations have termed it a “positive move.” and
now is time for Afghanistan!

CONCLUSION
At present we are cut off from the rest of the world for four days — Thursday, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday. With the new arrangement to be off on Fridays and Saturdays, we will
be technically disconnected with world business for only one day — Friday — as Saturday and
Sunday are days off for world business. Ultimately, we will get an extra day to make business
contacts with companies in other countries and it will not only boost the Afghanistan’s
imports and exports but will also put the Afghanistan in line with a system that is followed in
most of the world.

PAGE II

COMPARSION OF AFGHANISTAN AND REST OF THE WORLD OFF

AFGHANISTAN

Days Status International Trade
Saturday Working No
Sunday Working No
Monday Working Yes
Tuesday Working Yes
Wednesday Working Yes
Thursday Off No
Friday Off No
International Trade takes place three days in Afghanistan in one week

REST OF THE WORLD

Saturday Off No
Sunday Off No
Monday Working Yes
Tuesday Working Yes
Thursday Working Yes
Friday Working Yes
International Trade takes place five days in other countries in one week

DIFFERENCE (IF)

IF (5 days working) = 100 %
THEN (3 days working) = 60 %
Afghanistan lacks 40 % of international trade than other countries in one week.

Currently, Afghanistan is disconnected from the rest of the world for four days, in Afghanistan
we have Thursday and Friday as our weekend whereas, the world has Saturday and Sunday off.

PAGE III

PROPOSED CHANGE FOR AFGHANISTAN

Saturday Off No
Sunday Working No
Monday Working Yes
Tuesday Working Yes
Thursday Working Yes
Friday Off No
International Trade will take place four days in Afghanistan in one week

With the new arrangement to be off on Fridays and Saturdays, we will be technically disconnected with
world business for only one day — Friday — as Saturday and Sunday are days off for world business.

AFGHANISTAN ONE YEAR HOLIDAYS

Thursdays off 48 days
Fridays off 48 days
National and Religious off 16 days
Exceptional Holidays 5 days
Working hour decreases in (2hrs*20 days) = 5 days
Ramadan ( 2 hrs per day)
TOTAL HOLIDAYS IN ONE YEAR 122 DAYS

PAGE IV

APPENDIX ONE: CHANGE REACTION CYCLE

PAGE V

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