Cabinet Division notifies Four-Day Workweek amid sweeping austerity measures

2026-03-10 - 14:44

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani government has announced revised four-day workweek schedule for certain government offices, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division of Pakistan on Tuesday. Under the new arrangement, government offices operating under 4-day workweek will work from Monday to Thursday, while Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be observed as weekly off days. The decision comes through a notification issued by the Cabinet Secretariat and is a continuation of the earlier order released on March 9, 2026. The notification stated that government officials in Basic Pay Scale (BS-20) and above, or those earning a monthly salary of PKR 300,000 or more, may voluntarily forgo two days’ salary as part of the government’s policy measures. However, this provision does not apply to officials serving in the health and education sectors. Officials said the measure has been introduced as part of administrative and financial management efforts by the federal government. The directive was issued with the approval of the Cabinet Secretary, and was signed by Section Officer (Ministerial-I) Muhammad Meesam. The notification has also been forwarded to the Printing Corporation of Pakistan Press in Islamabad for publication in the Gazette of Pakistan Extraordinary. Pakistan introduced emergency austerity and fuel-saving measures after disruptions to oil and gas supplies caused by the escalating Middle East conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could severely impact Pakistan’s economy, as the country of around 250 million relies heavily on imported fuel. The government also announced temporary school closures with online university classes, and salary cuts for ministers and lawmakers. Restrictions have also been placed on official travel, government fuel usage, and large social gatherings.