KP announces 100 percent work from home on Fridays to conserve fuel amid Iran war

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to implement 100 percent work from home in government offices on Fridays for the next two months as part of efforts to conserve fuel in the wake of disrupted supplies caused by the war on Iran.

According to a notification issued by the establishment department, the chief minister approved the decision to enforce complete work from home in all government offices on Fridays for a period of two months or until the situation improves, whichever comes first.

Spring break for educational institutions

The notification further stated that spring break at public and private educational institutions — with the exception of university education and board examinations — would commence from March 24. The practical impact of this measure would be limited to four days, as Friday through Sunday was already a holiday in the province.

Fuel Conservation and Responsible Governance Initiative

The move is part of a broader strategy approved by the KP cabinet on March 9, when it endorsed the Fuel Conservation and Responsible Governance Initiative. The initiative comprises several measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption amid the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.

Among the key steps announced under this strategy, the provincial government declared a 25 percent reduction in the fuel entitlement for official vehicles. The measures collectively reflect the KP government's attempt to manage the economic fallout of the ongoing conflict on fuel supplies and ensure responsible governance during a period of global uncertainty.

The decision to shift to remote work on Fridays is expected to significantly cut down on fuel usage across government departments in the province, as employees will no longer need to commute to their offices on that day. Combined with the early spring break for schools and colleges, the KP government appears to be deploying a multi-pronged approach to address the fuel conservation challenge.