ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal government is reportedly considering work from home policy and online classes to conserve energy amid the possible fuel crisis due to the Iran-US-Israel conflict.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced the “national action plan” to introduce energy conservation measures to address disruptions to fuel imports.
Sources said that measures such as reduced office attendance, remote work in the corporate and IT sectors, and other initiatives could be implemented starting in March 2026 to reduce energy consumption.
For the corporate sector, the government is exploring the possibility of allowing employees to work online for two days a week.
It was further emerged that the government offices may implement a policy requiring only essential staff to be physically present, with the rest working remotely.
Various proposals, including shared rides for office staff and online services for potential employees, are also being considered to further minimise energy usage.
In a policy statement during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, the finance minister said that we are introducing the “energy conservation measures” and would have to self-discipline without creating noise to curtail the demand.
However, the finance minister said that the country has sufficient stocks of fuel for this month in addition to 10 days’ worth of crude oil reserves, emphasizing there was no cause for immediate concern.
The final set of measures has not yet been approved by the committee, as it will again deliberate on these energy-saving measures on Thursday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to decide on Friday in light of the recommendations of the committee, said the officials.
Aurangzeb regarding shortage of fuel
Finance Minister Aurangzeb on Wednesday rejected the rumors circulating about a shortage of oil in the country amid the escalating tension in the Middle East.
Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, the finance czar said that we have petrol and diesel stocks for 28 days, crude oil stocks for 10 days, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 15 days.
There is no shortage of petroleum products, he said, adding that the country has enough supplies to meet domestic demand for nearly a month.
“Some LNG cargoes from Qatar have been halted, but demand will be met by enhancing output from local gas,” Aurangzeb told the Senate committee.
The finance minister added that we are not going for rationing of fuel as there is no fuel shortage in the country, but things could become serious if the war drags on.
