Pakistan Implements Austerity Measures to Save Fuel
PM Shehbaz Sharif today announced school closures and fuel cuts for government staff. Public offices will shift to a four-day week to manage energy supplies.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan has announced a series of austerity measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption as the nation faces economic pressures linked to the conflict in the Middle East. The directives, shared during a televised address on Monday, involve significant changes to government operations and the national education system to manage energy resources more effectively.
As part of the new policy, all schools will be closed for a two-week period beginning March 16. Higher education institutions are required to transition to an online learning format immediately. These measures are intended to lower the daily demand for fuel by reducing transportation needs for students and faculty across the country.
In the public sector, Sharif announced that fuel allowances for government departments will be cut by 50%. Additionally, half of the government workforce has been instructed to work from home to further conserve energy. Most government offices will also move to a four-day work week, though the banking sector is excluded from this change and will continue its standard operating schedule.
