Pakistan slashes energy use: Markets to close by 8 PM amidst soaring fuel prices

Islamabad (The Uttam Hindu): The fire of war in the Middle East has completely broken the back of Pakistan which is already suffering from poverty. Alarmed by the deepening energy crisis in the country and skyrocketing global fuel prices, the Shahbaz Sharif government has taken a very strict and big step. Now in Pakistan, a strict order has been issued to close the markets, shopping malls and shops in most of the areas at 8 pm from April 7. According to the directive issued by the Prime Minister's Office, the government has taken this decision in a high level meeting called on Monday to review the petroleum products.

There will be silence after 8 pm, wedding parties will also be restricted

According to the government's new and stricter directives, all markets, departmental stores, and daily use shops in major areas such as Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will close at 8 p.m. However, some cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been given a slight relaxation until 9 p.m. Bakeries, restaurants, tandoors, food outlets, and marriage halls have also been given an ultimatum to close by 10 p.m. Wedding ceremonies held in private homes will also have to be completed within this time limit. The only relief is that medical stores and pharmacies have been exempted from this restriction.

Middle East tensions have taken the wind out of Pakistan's sails

The primary cause of this sudden and severe energy crisis in Pakistan is the ongoing war in the Gulf countries. The joint attack on Iran by the US and Israel on February 28th has heightened tensions throughout the region. In retaliation, Iran has targeted US bases and disrupted the vital shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. This blockage has severely impacted global oil supplies, with the most devastating impact on faltering economies like Pakistan's.

Diesel price crosses Rs 500, public gets minor relief

Due to the global oil crisis, petrol and diesel prices have skyrocketed in Pakistan. On March 6th, the government increased oil prices by a massive Rs 55 per liter. After this, on April 2nd, the situation became so uncontrollable that the price of petrol reached a record high of Rs 458.41 and the price of diesel reached a record high of Rs 520.35 per liter. However, after massive protests, the government reduced the price of petrol to Rs 378 per liter. To provide immediate relief to the people suffering from inflation, the government has announced free intercity public transport facility in Gilgit and Muzaffarabad for one month.

Expenses cut, major changes planned in government offices

To prevent the country from going completely bankrupt and stabilize the economy, the Shahbaz government is preparing to take some more major and tough decisions. To mitigate the economic impact of the crisis, the government has introduced a wide range of measures. These include implementing a proposed four-day work week across the country, a significant reduction in fuel allowances for officials, and a direct 20 percent cut in expenditures for all government departments. Previously, the provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have also implemented similar energy-saving measures.