Pakistan Announces Wartime Austerity Measures Amid Global Oil Crisis

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a series of wartime austerity measures on Monday night, saying the government must respond to a severe oil crisis triggered by the US-Israel war against Iran.

According to the Pakistani newspaper Dawn on Tuesday, March 10, Sharif ordered all government offices to operate only four days a week for an indefinite period. Schools and colleges will remain closed for two weeks as the country attempts to reduce energy consumption.

Under the new measures, at least 50 percent of employees in both public and private companies will be required to work from home. Universities and higher education institutions have been instructed to continue classes through online learning platforms.

The government also ordered that fuel use for official and government vehicles be reduced by 50 percent for the next two months. In addition, the salaries of members of parliament will be cut by 25 percent as part of the austerity program.

In a separate statement, Sharif condemned the war by the United States and Israel against Iran and expressed deep concern over civilian casualties in the Middle East.

Global oil markets have been shaken by disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for international energy shipments, pushing crude oil prices above $100 per barrel in recent days.

Pakistan’s economy is highly dependent on imported energy and remittances from workers in Gulf countries, making it particularly vulnerable to sudden spikes in oil prices and regional instability.

Analysts warn that the two-week closure of schools and universities and wider austerity measures could disrupt daily life for millions of Pakistanis as the government struggles to manage the economic shock.

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