The Pakistani government is proposing a strict nationwide “smart lockdown” every weekend to cut domestic fuel consumption as the ongoing US-Iran war triggers a massive global energy crisis.
If provincial authorities approve the plan, the emergency measure will force the closure of all markets, corporate offices, and commercial venues from noon on Saturdays until midnight on Sundays starting April 4. Wedding events will also face mandatory suspensions during these hours.
The proposal is currently circulating among provincial governments, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan for final input, according to a detailed report released on Sunday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the public that national petroleum reserves are stable. But he asked citizens to stop unnecessary travel and use video calls instead.
The financial damage from the Middle East conflict is already hitting the domestic economy hard. Jet fuel prices jumped by more than 150 percent. The federal government cut its development budget by Rs 125 billion to protect citizens from the surging global oil costs.
This energy squeeze happens right as major diplomats fly into the capital. Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey are arriving in Islamabad this weekend to hold mediation talks regarding the Middle East conflict.
Officials will decide on the weekend closures soon as the world watches the oil markets.