Pakistan’s cabinet approved energy conservation and austerity plans for government officials to mitigate the prevailing energy crisis, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced on June 7.
Marriyum Aurangzeb made the announcement while addressing a press conference alongside PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira, JUIF’s Asad Mahmood, and MQM-P’s Aminul Haque after a meeting of the federal cabinet.
Energy Conservation Plan
1. Five-day working week: The five-day working week has been restored by the government under the conservation plan approved in the federal cabinet’s meeting.
“Saturday offs have been restored. These are challenging times and it has been done to control this crisis,” said Marriyum Aurangzeb, “That one day can save $386 million annually.”
2. Work from home: Remote work proposals on Fridays is under consideration and will be finalized soon.
3. Car tune-up centers: Additionally, a plan to expand car tune-up centers nationwide to improve the fuel efficiency of cars has also been approved.
“This could prove fuel efficiency by 40-50% with annual maintenance,” said Aurangzeb.
4. Mass awareness campaign: The government would launch a mass awareness campaign from tomorrow to encourage behavioral change for energy efficiency and conservation, said the information minister.
5. Switching off alternate street lights: The cabinet approved plans to work with provincial municipal authorities to switch off street lights on alternate days to save energy.
6. Early closure of commercial markets: Tweaking business hours and closure of commercial markets after sundown is also planned and will be finalized after meeting with the business community.
Government’s Austerity Plan
Under the austerity plan for government officials approved by the federal cabinet to cope with the severe financial constraints, the fuel quota of government officials has been approved to undergo a 40 percent cut. “We realize we are asking the public to make sacrifices but want to be clear we will start from home,” she stressed.
Announcing the ban on unnecessary foreign visits of government officials, Aurangzeb said, “A complete ban has been imposed on official visits by government officials, functionaries, and ministries. Only obligatory visits and very important bilateral visits will be allowed.”
The consumption of utilities at a government level and at offices would be reduced by 10pc, she added.
- 40% reduction in petrol quota of government officials and cabinet members
- 10% of the reduction in utility consumption
- Foreign trips banned
- Purchase of vehicles banned for government officials
- Virtual meetings by the government
- Ban on the renovation of federal department offices
- Purchase of furniture banned for offices
Loadshedding reduction
Currently, Pakistan’s electricity demand is 28,400MW while the supply is 21,000MW out of available 25,600MW. The cabinet has approved a gradual reduction in power cuts in this order
- From June 6 to 15, the loadshedding will be reduced to less than four hours
- From June 16 to June 24, it will be decreased to three hours
- From June 25 to 29, power cut hours will be lowered to less than two hours
- After June 30 the duration of loadshedding will be of two hours