The federal government has announced a shift to a four-day work week as part of a new austerity drive to ease economic pressure and reduce fuel consumption amid the ongoing Middle East war.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement in a televised address to the nation night after chairing a meeting on austerity measures.
He said the four-day schedule will apply broadly, excluding banks, the industrial sector, and agriculture, which will continue operations under their existing arrangements.
Alongside the reduced working days, the prime minister announced a complete ban on iftar parties and dinners and directed that official engagements should rely on online meetings and video-link communication wherever possible.
He also said the government will introduce a work-from-home arrangement for 50% staff in public and private sector institutions, except for essential services, to cut down commuting and fuel use.
The prime minister also announced a 50% cut in fuel quotas for public-sector institutions for two months and said 60% of government office transport will be taken off the road for the same period.
The plan also includes a 20% cut in government spending excluding salaries, restrictions on new procurement, salary-related measures for cabinet members, MPs and senior officers, limits on non-essential foreign travel, and moving seminars and conferences to government buildings instead of hotels.
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While private pot more burden on their workers.