The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has intensified fuel-saving measures by enforcing work from home on all Fridays for the next two months, as fuel supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict continue to impact availability.
According to an official notification issued by the Establishment Department, the chief minister has approved 100% work from home in all government offices every Friday during this period, or until the situation stabilizes. This step expands on earlier directives that allowed partial remote working across provincial departments.
In addition to this, the government has announced a brief spring vacation for schools. The break will begin from March 24 for both public and private institutions, excluding universities and ongoing board examinations. However, the overall impact is expected to be minimal since Friday to Sunday already coincide with regular holidays.
These measures fall under a wider strategy titled the Fuel Conservation and Responsible Governance Initiative, which was approved by the provincial cabinet earlier this month. As part of the plan, authorities have reduced fuel allocations for official vehicles by 25% and introduced a four-day school week to limit fuel consumption related to transportation. Previously, departments were operating with 50% work from home, which has now been increased.
On the financial front, the government has implemented austerity measures for the final quarter of the fiscal year. The Finance Department has ordered a 20% reduction in non-employee expenditures for the April to June period, citing rising global oil prices and economic pressure.
Furthermore, the purchase of new durable goods has been banned until June 30, 2026. To conserve fuel, 60% of government vehicles will remain unused, while similar steps have also been adopted by the judiciary, including the Peshawar High Court.
Read more: LHC Urges Government to Implement Work from Home Policy
