Pakistan Mulls ‘Petroleum Smart Lockdown’ as Oil Prices Skyrocket

The war raging in West Asia has sent crude oil prices spiralling to levels Pakistan hasn’t seen in decades. With the Strait of Hormuz under threat, shipments that normally feed Pakistani refineries are being delayed, and the country’s foreign‑exchange reserves are on a hair‑trigger. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration is quietly drafting what officials are calling a “Petroleum Smart Lockdown.”

At its core, the plan is about cutting fuel demand without grinding the economy to a halt. One of the headline ideas is a four‑day workweek for both public offices and private firms. The proposal would shift the weekend from Friday‑Saturday to Friday‑Sunday, effectively taking a day off every week and reducing the number of commuter trips on the road.

Public‑sector ministries are already sketching rotation schedules, meaning a sizable chunk of employees would work from home on certain days. The government also wants to slash the mileage allowance for official cars by about half, and it’s looking at grounding up to 50 % of its own fleet – everything from bureaucratic SUVs to utility vans that aren’t essential for emergency services.

On the commercial side, the draft measures call for earlier closures of markets, shopping malls and entertainment venues. Shops would have to shutter by 8 pm, while restaurants, bakeries and wedding halls would be expected to call it a night by 10 pm. Hospitals, pharmacies and other critical services would be exempt.

Officials say the goal isn’t a full‑blown lockdown; it’s a targeted austerity push to keep fuel flowing for essential needs while buying time for the exchequer. By trimming daily vehicle movement and curbing non‑essential electricity use, they hope to ease the pressure on petrol and diesel stocks, which, according to state estimates, could last only about four weeks at current consumption rates.

Critics warn that a shortened workweek could dent productivity and hurt small businesses already reeling from high input costs. Still, with inflation creeping into food and other staple items, many view the plan as a necessary, if painful, stop‑gap.

Whether the “Petroleum Smart Lockdown” will be rolled out in its entirety or in a piecemeal fashion remains to be seen. What’s clear, however, is that Pakistan is scrambling to protect its economy from a perfect storm of soaring oil prices, depleted reserves and a volatile regional backdrop.