Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced two weeks of holidays in schools across Pakistan and a four-day work week for government offices, as part of measures aimed at reducing energy consumption amid rising global fuel prices.
In his address to the nation, the prime minister said that all schools in the country will remain closed for next two weeks, while online classes will continue during the holiday period to ensure that students’ education is not disrupted.
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Sharif also announced that government offices will operate only four days a week, with one additional weekly holiday introduced to cut energy usage and fuel costs.
However, the prime minister clarified that the decision will not apply to banks, which will continue to operate under their existing schedule.
The prime minister said the government had to make difficult decisions due to the current global situation, particularly the sharp rise in oil and gas prices in international markets.
The decisions come as Pakistan faces increasing pressure from rising global fuel prices and energy costs. By reducing office days and temporarily closing schools, the government aims to lower electricity and fuel consumption across the country.
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Pakistan relies heavily on imported oil and gas, making its economy vulnerable to global energy price fluctuations.
With international crude oil prices rising sharply due to tensions in the Middle East, the government has introduced several cost-saving and energy conservation measures to manage the situation.
