The federal government of Pakistan has officially announced the implementation of a Four-Day Work Week for government offices. The decision was shared through a notification issued by the Cabinet Division.
According to the notification, government offices will now operate from Monday to Thursday. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be observed as official holidays under the new Four-Day Work Week policy.
Officials said the measure is part of broader austerity and energy-saving efforts. The government aims to reduce operational costs and manage resources more efficiently during the current economic challenges.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier introduced several austerity initiatives to help stabilize the economy. The Four-Day Work Week is one of the key steps designed to lower expenses and conserve energy.
Under the new directives, several additional measures have also been announced. Government departments will reduce petrol consumption for official vehicles by 50 percent for the next two months. However, ambulances and public transport buses will not be affected by these restrictions.
Authorities also confirmed that 60 percent of government vehicles will be taken off the roads temporarily. At the same time, the purchase of new vehicles, furniture, air conditioners, and other non-essential items has been suspended.
As part of financial adjustments, cabinet members, ministers, advisers, and special assistants will not receive salaries for the next two months. Members of parliament will face a 25 percent reduction in their pay during the same period.
Senior officers in Grade 20 and above, earning more than Rs300,000 per month, will voluntarily contribute two days’ salary. However, the government clarified that these reductions will not apply to employees working in the health and education sectors.
Officials believe the Four-Day Work Week will also help reduce fuel consumption and transportation costs for employees. Teleconferencing and online meetings have been encouraged to limit unnecessary travel.
The government also directed that only 50 percent of staff should attend offices at a time, except for essential services. Work-from-home arrangements may continue where possible to support the Four-Day Work Week system.
In the education sector, schools will observe two weeks of holidays starting this weekend. Universities and higher education institutions will temporarily shift to online classes to maintain academic activities.
Authorities have also warned against hoarding and profiteering of fuel and essential commodities. Provincial governments have been instructed to strictly implement these measures.
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Officials say the Four-Day Work Week and related steps aim to improve fiscal discipline while maintaining government services during ongoing economic and energy challenges.
