Pakistan imposes remote work, school closures as Iran conflict disrupts energy supplies

2026-03-10 - 08:33

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unveiled a series of emergency austerity measures Monday in response to energy disruptions stemming from the escalating conflict in the Middle East. In a national address reported by local daily Dawn, Sharif outlined steps to reduce energy consumption as the war between US-Israeli forces and Iran continues to disrupt global energy supplies. Pakistan implements sweeping conservation measures Sharif announced that 50 percent of public-sector employees, excluding those in essential services, will transition to remote work arrangements. Government offices, with the exception of banks, will operate on a four-day week schedule. All schools across the country will close for two weeks starting later this week, while higher education institutions will shift to online learning. The prime minister also ordered fuel allowances for official vehicles reduced by half for two months and directed that 60 percent of government vehicles be taken off the road. In a show of shared sacrifice, the federal cabinet will forgo salaries during the same period, while parliamentarians face a 25 percent salary reduction. Additional measures include restricting nonessential foreign travel, banning vehicle purchases, and holding meetings online to reduce government spending. India prioritizes household gas supplies Neighboring India also felt the impact of the regional crisis, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas ordering oil refineries to increase liquefied petroleum gas production. The directive cited "current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on supply of LPG" as the rationale for boosting domestic output. The ministry confirmed that household LPG supply has been prioritized, while imported LPG will be directed to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, ensuring critical services remain operational despite supply constraints. US Embassy issues security alert The US Embassy in Islamabad separately issued a security alert for American citizens regarding planned protests in Pakistan on Tuesday. The embassy restricted movement of US personnel starting at 12:00 pm local time on March 10, reflecting heightened security concerns as the regional conflict generates political repercussions across affected nations. Energy crisis deepens as Strait of Hormuz remains closed The regional energy emergency traces directly to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began Feb. 28, which have killed more than 1,200 people including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran's retaliatory drone and missile strikes have targeted Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Most critically for global energy markets, Iran effectively closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz around March 1, blocking a waterway that normally handles approximately 20 million barrels of oil shipments daily and roughly 20 percent of global liquefied natural gas trade. The closure has sent shockwaves through energy-dependent economies across South Asia and beyond.