JAKARTA - Pakistan has decided to re-implement the five-day working day policy. This is in response to an energy conservation plan because Pakistan is suffering from a worsening energy crisis, even causing prolonged power outages and soaring fuel prices.
The plan was endorsed by the newly formed coalition government cabinet on Tuesday 8 June. Includes several savings measures to reduce fuel and energy use.
The move comes as Pakistan faces a severe energy crisis. Even to the point of causing prolonged power outages, soaring fuel prices, and soaring costs of living.
Even the economy was hit hard and the currency fell to record lows. The country's power plants ran a deficit in the face of increasing demand during the summer months that witnessed a deadly heatwave.
“We are facing a serious crisis... We urgently need to take energy conservation measures. We need to take advantage of every option to save energy," said information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
The move to return to the five-day work week comes after the country's new prime minister Shehbaz Sharif increased the official week for government employees to six days in April with only Sunday as a day off. Mr. Sharif says he aims to increase productivity.
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However, now the country is also exploring ways to let people work from home on Fridays and the early closure of commercial markets to reduce the burden on fuel stocks.
Along with the reduction of the working day, the cabinet also approved a 40 percent cut in gasoline allowances given to government officials and cabinet members as anger in the country grew after gasoline prices rose 40 percent or Rs 60 per liter in a week.
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