Pakistan Mulls 4-Day Workweek, 3-Day Break Amid Petroleum Crisis
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan is reportedly considering a four-day working week with three days off across public and private institutions as authorities explore measures to reduce fuel consumption and operating costs amid renewed pressure from high petroleum prices.
However, no fresh official notification or formal government confirmation of the reported proposal had been issued as of Tuesday afternoon, making the distinction between a proposal and an approved decision crucial.
Express Urdu, citing private-media reports based on sources, said a proposal under consideration at the federal level could cover government and private offices, schools, colleges and universities nationwide.
Under the reported plan, institutions would operate for four days while remaining completely closed for three days. The objective would be to reduce expenditure on fuel, electricity and administrative operations.
The report also said relevant departments had been asked to prepare schedules and procedures for a potential new arrangement. Some employees could be required to attend offices physically while others could work remotely.
But Express explicitly cautioned that the proposal has not yet received official public confirmation and no formal notification has been released. Details concerning which days would be holidays, which sectors would be exempt and how attendance would operate therefore cannot yet be treated as final.
Pakistan Has Used a 4-Day Week Before
The proposal would not be unprecedented.
In March, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a four-day working week as part of a broader fuel-conservation programme introduced after the Middle East conflict disrupted energy markets.
At the time, offices were ordered to operate four days a week, while 50% of employees in public and private-sector workplaces — excluding essential services — were to work remotely. Banks were exempt from the four-day arrangement, as were the industrial and agricultural sectors from certain work-from-home and holiday measures.
The policy was accompanied by a 50% reduction in fuel allowances for official vehicles, restrictions on government vehicle use and other austerity measures intended to reduce petroleum consumption.
Pakistan’s judiciary also adopted a four-day schedule during that period. The Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court, high courts and district courts introduced fuel-conservation measures, with the Supreme Court operating Monday through Thursday and observing holidays from Friday through Sunday.
The International Monetary Fund subsequently documented Pakistan’s temporary fuel-saving measures, including a four-day public-sector workweek and mandatory remote working for 50% of public and private-sector employees.
Fresh Fuel Pressure
The latest speculation comes as petroleum costs again attract public attention. Express reported that petrol was increased by Rs4.42 per litre and high-speed diesel by Rs6.10 per litre, with the revised prices taking effect on September 15.
Pakistan remains particularly vulnerable to disruptions in Middle Eastern energy supplies because it is a net oil and gas importer. An IMF assessment earlier this year said 81% of Pakistan’s fuel imports came from the Gulf Cooperation Council region, making the economy highly exposed to higher international prices and physical supply disruptions.
A shorter working week could potentially reduce commuting and government energy consumption, but its economic impact would depend heavily on implementation, sector exemptions and the extent to which businesses can shift effectively to remote work.
For now, reports that a nationwide four-day schedule has already been approved should be treated cautiously.
The correct status is: the measure is reportedly under consideration; a new official government notification has not yet been issued.
