School, Office Closures Mulled amid Petrol Price Hike

KARACHI: The Sindh Cabinet will decide on Tuesday how long schools, colleges and offices  in the province will remain closed, ARY News reported, citing reliable sources.

A provincial cabinet meeting has been convened for tomorrow, Tuesday. The “huddle” is expected to decide on the potential closure of government offices and the implementation of a “work from home” policy.

Additionally, the Sindh Education Department has been instructed to prepare recommendations regarding the closure of schools and colleges across the province. The Department of Universities and Boards has also been directed to submit suggestions concerning higher education institutions.

Chief Minister Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, will chair the meeting to finalize these critical decisions.

These precautionary measures are being considered in response to the escalating conflict involving Israel, the US, and Iran, and the subsequent regional instability—specifically the growing concerns over a potential oil and fuel crisis.

On the other hand Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his address to nation has announced that all schools will receive two weeks’ holidays starting this weekend, while higher education institutions will immediately begin online classes to ensure continuity of learning.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has announced a wide-ranging set of austerity measures across federal and provincial governments to address the ongoing economic challenges and ensure relief for the public.

Fuel Restrictions for Government Vehicles
Under the new directives, all government departments will face a 50 percent reduction in petrol usage for official vehicles for the next two months, though ambulances and public transport buses will remain exempt. In addition, 60 percent of departmental vehicles will be taken off the road, and purchases of vehicles, furniture, air conditioners, and other non-essential items have been suspended.

Salary Reductions and Suspensions
The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also announced salary reductions and suspensions. Cabinet members, ministers, advisers, and special assistants will forego salaries for the next two months, while members of Parliament will face a 25 percent pay cut.

Senior officers in Grade 20 and above, with salaries exceeding Rs300,000, will see two days’ pay deducted, which will be directed toward public relief efforts. Government departments have also been instructed to reduce all non-salary expenses by 20 percent.

Work-from-Home and Office Operations
In a bid to conserve fuel, the government has directed that teleconferencing and online meetings take precedence, and only 50 percent of staff in government and private sectors will report to offices, except in essential services.

Offices will remain open four days a week, with one extra holiday added. However, PM Shehabaz Sharif said that this does not apply to banks or critical sectors such as industry and agriculture. Official seminars, conferences, dinners, and Iftar parties will now be held in government premises, and outdoor gatherings have been banned.