Pakistan weighs 4-day workweek as fuel supply fears rise

Pakistan is considering a four-day workweek and reduced office hours as part of emergency energy-saving measures amid concerns about fuel supply disruptions linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

According to officials, a special government committee chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb reviewed a range of conservation proposals aimed at reducing the consumption of petrol, diesel and LNG. 

The measures are being examined as global energy prices surge and supply routes face uncertainty.

Among the proposals discussed were shifting government offices to a four-day workweek with shorter working hours and moving educational institutions to online learning, similar to arrangements adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, officials said there was no immediate proposal to halt public transport services.

The committee remained divided on how aggressively the conservation measures should be implemented. Some members warned that partial closures of offices and institutions could trigger public anxiety and panic buying of fuel, while others argued that delaying action could quickly erode national fuel reserves.

According to officials, Pakistan currently holds petroleum stocks sufficient for about 25–28 days of national consumption, though two crude cargoes have reportedly been delayed due to disruptions in shipping routes near the Strait of Hormuz.

Moreover, the government is also exploring alternative supply arrangements with Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE to maintain fuel imports through safer routes. 

However, officials cautioned that even if new cargoes are secured, they could be significantly more expensive, with LNG shipments now estimated at around $70 million per cargo, compared with roughly $30 million before the crisis.

The committee is expected to finalise its recommendations and submit them to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after which the proposals could be reviewed by the cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee.