Why Pakistan has just moved to a four-day week

10 Mar 2026 • 8:42 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Pakistan has introduced emergency austerity measures, including a four-day work-week for public offices and a two-week school closure, in response to surging global fuel prices and Middle East instability.
  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that universities would switch to online classes and government departments would face a 50% cut in fuel allowances, with half of government employees working remotely.
  • Further measures include grounding 60% of official vehicles, federal ministers forgoing salaries, and a 25% pay cut for parliamentarians.
  • The government also imposed bans on purchasing new vehicles and furniture for offices, restricted foreign travel for officials, and cancelled official dinners and Iftar parties during Ramadan.
  • Pakistan's navy launched 'Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr' to escort merchant vessels and secure national energy supplies, as the Prime Minister warned of escalating global fuel prices due to regional conflicts.

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