category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh The decision of Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to change the timings of office in the state has got accolades globally as UAE based newspaper Gulf news has appreciated this step and asked the Government of India to replicate it across the country. Divulging the details, the Chief Minister said that this pro-people initiative has been hailed by the Gulf News as a path breaking initiative. He said that the appreciation by international media regarding this step has filled them with further humility and responsibility to serve the masses. Bhagwant Mann said that it has also vindicated the Punjab government s stand of taking every decision for the well being of the state and prosperity of its people. He said that the day is not far when as usual Punjab will lead the country and show them path of public welfare. He said that it is the need of hour that all of us should join hands and contribute for socio-economic progress of the country. Bhagwant Mann said that the report of the international media is a testimony to the fact that Punjab is today leading the country in matters related to larger public interest. Pertinently, the Gulf news has in its recent story lauded the Chief Minister for taking this noble initiative. The leading newspaper of Gulf has further said that India must emulate Bhagwant Mann s idea of 7:30 am to 2 pm work days. It has said that India s Punjab government has changed office timings adding that this experiment must be taken seriously and replicated in larger public interest. It may be recalled that keeping in view the larger public interest, the Punjab government has recently changed the timings of office from 9am to 5 pm, to 7:30 am to 2 pm. Besides facilitating the larger public this move has enabled the state government to save 350MW electricity daily. Nearly Rs. 50 crore will be saved through this first of its kind move besides solving the problem traffic congestion in the cities. (editor dailyworld.in)