Educational institutions across Pakistan are rapidly transitioning to a four-day workweek, as federal and provincial authorities implement austerity measures to tackle the ongoing energy crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.
In the latest development, the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) announced that all private schools in the Islamabad Capital Territory will now operate on a reduced weekly schedule.
According to a notification issued by PEIRA Secretary Muhammad Javed Iqbal, “the new schedule will run from Monday to Thursday with immediate effect and will remain in place until further notice.” Authorities have directed all institutions to ensure strict compliance.
Punjab Implements Province-wide Policy
The move follows a similar decision in Punjab, where the School Education Department has enforced a four-day academic week for both public and private institutions.
“Pursuant to approval of the competent authority, it is hereby notified that all public and private schools across Punjab shall remain off on Friday till further orders,” read the official notification.
Under the revised timetable, single-shift schools will operate from 8:00am to 1:30pm, while double-shift institutions will run morning sessions from 8:00am to 12:30pm and afternoon sessions from 1:00pm to 5:30pm.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat confirmed the development, stating that schools, colleges, and universities have resumed academic activities but under revised policies aimed at addressing current challenges.
Revised Institutional Schedules
The Punjab School Education Department has released specific operating hours to accommodate the new schedule:
| Shift Type | Opening Time | Closing Time (Mon–Thu) |
| Single Shift | 8:00 AM | 1:30 PM |
| Double Shift (Morning) | 8:00 AM | 12:30 PM |
| Double Shift (Afternoon) | 1:00 PM | 5:30 PM |
Universities also shift to Reduced Schedule
The four-day workweek policy extends beyond schools. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has directed all public and private universities nationwide to limit on-campus academic activities to Monday through Thursday.
According to the HEC notification, universities will remain closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, though online classes may be conducted on Fridays where necessary.
Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Education has announced that no physical classes will take place in federally administered institutions during the extended weekend.
Energy Crisis Drives Policy Shift
These sweeping changes are part of broader austerity measures introduced on March 10 by federal and provincial governments in response to rising global fuel costs.
The crisis, linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, has prompted Pakistan to adopt aggressive energy-saving strategies. These include reducing fuel allocations for government officials, limiting the use of protocol vehicles, and introducing additional weekly holidays.
Earlier, on March 9, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had ordered the closure of all educational institutions in the province until the end of the month, as part of initial emergency measures.
Balancing Education and Crisis Management
Despite earlier announcements suggesting a return to five-day academic weeks, authorities have revised policies to better align with economic realities.
Officials have acknowledged the risk of academic disruption and emphasized the need for adaptive strategies. “Policies would be revised to compensate for academic losses,” the Punjab education minister stated, adding that consultations are underway to minimize future disruptions.
Current Status
Authorities have instructed all concerned institutions to ensure strict compliance with the new timings. Secretary Muddassir Riaz Malik of the Punjab School Education Department confirmed that the department is currently consulting on strategies to minimize further academic disruptions and compensate for potential learning losses.