Pakistan closes schools for two weeks, cuts government fuel by 50%, and grounds 60% of official vehicles as Iran war sends oil prices to record highs above Rs 321 per litre.
Why Pakistan Can't Afford Fuel Anymore: PM Slashing Government Cars, AC Bans, Office Staff (Image: File)
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a two-week school shutdown and sweeping government austerity Monday, slashing fuel allowances by 50% and pulling 60% of official vehicles off roads to combat skyrocketing oil prices from the Iran war's Strait of Hormuz blockade. With petrol leaping a record 55 rupees per litre last week, the energy-importing nation faces classroom closures, four-day workweeks, and AC bans as global crude hits $105+ per barrel.
Starting next week, all schools shutter for 14 days while universities switch entirely online to kill student commuting. Sharif's fuel-saving drive targets every drop amid Pakistan's near-total energy import reliance. "To stabilise the economy we have taken difficult decisions," he told the nation, acknowledging minimal control over war-driven global prices hammering local pumps.
Government departments face 50% fuel quota cuts for two months; 60% of official cars—excluding buses, ambulances—get grounded immediately. Only 50% staff report to offices except essential services; government operations shrink to four days weekly. Departments slash spending 20%, banning vehicle, AC, and furniture purchases while curbing ministerial foreign travel.
Last week's record 55-rupee-per-litre petrol/diesel hike—the largest ever—followed global oil's 36% war-fueled surge. Pakistan imports virtually all energy, making inflation hypersensitive to Middle East chaos. Central bank Monday held policy rate at 10.5% but flagged "increased uncertainty" around inflation outlook from Hormuz disruptions.
The US-Israeli-Iran conflict sealing Hormuz—one-fifth of world oil—traps Pakistan between sky-high imports and dwindling reserves. Sharif minimises citizen burden yet enforces wartime rationing across bureaucracy. Classroom closures signal crisis depth: education sacrificed to preserve fuel for critical needs.
A: Two weeks starting next week; universities shift completely online.
A: 50% reduction across departments for two months minimum.
A: Record 55 rupees per litre—the largest single increase ever.
A: Vehicle, AC, furniture purchases; most foreign travel restricted.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
