Pakistan introduces four-day workweek with three-day weekend amid energy challenges

Senior officials earn over Rs300,000 or hold Grade-20 positions are directed to take voluntary pay cuts equivalent to two days’ salary

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 10th, 2026) Pakistan on Tuesday announced a new four-day workweek for Federal offices under its work-from-home policy, keeping Monday to Thursday as official working days and Friday to Sunday as holidays.

An official notification issued by the Cabinet Division said that senior officials earning over Rs300,000 or holding Grade-20 positions are directed to take voluntary pay cuts equivalent to two days’ salary. The salary reduction will not apply to employees in the health and education sectors.

The notification, approved by the Secretary of the Cabinet Division, has been circulated to federal ministers, advisers, special assistants to the Prime Minister, secretaries of all ministries and divisions, provincial chief secretaries, the Election Commission, the higher judiciary, the State Bank of Pakistan, and other relevant institutions.

This decision is part of the government’s broader strategy to save operational costs, optimize resources, and ensure smooth implementation of work-from-home policies across federal and provincial institutions.

Experts say the four-day workweek could improve employee productivity while addressing energy and budgetary concerns amid rising operational costs in the country.