The federal government is considering a “petroleum smart lockdown” as part of efforts to reduce fuel consumption following a sharp rise in petroleum prices. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on September 15 to review different measures aimed at lowering transport and energy use.
One proposal under discussion would limit government and private offices to four working days a week, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday as holidays. The government is also considering a rotation system for public-sector employees, which could reduce the number of workers travelling to offices each day.
Other options include closing markets for three days a week or reducing their operating hours. Officials are also considering taking around 50% of government vehicles off the roads to cut fuel use and transport costs.
However, the four-day workweek is still a proposal and has not been formally implemented. The federal government was expected to take a decision on the wider smart lockdown measures on Tuesday evening.
