Pakistan to close schools, cut spending over Iran war
Pakistan to Close Schools, Cut Spending Over Iran War
In response to the escalating conflict between the US and Israel in Iran, Pakistan has introduced a range of financial and operational adjustments to ease the economic burden. These measures, which include temporary school closures, reduced government expenditures, and restrictions on social gatherings, aim to conserve resources and stabilize the nation’s finances.
Key Economic Measures
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unveiled the plan, emphasizing the need to address the rising costs linked to the war. Among the steps, schools nationwide will shut for two weeks beginning the following Monday, impacting approximately 40 million students in a country of 250 million. Concurrently, colleges and universities will transition to online instruction during the same timeframe.
Government offices, excluding banks, will operate on a four-day week, with half of public employees required to work remotely. Fuel quotas for official vehicles are being halved for two months, except for essential services like ambulances and public transport. Cabinet ministers and advisors will also forego their salaries, while legislators are expected to voluntarily reduce their pay by 25%.
Impact of Energy Crisis
Radio Pakistan reported that petrol and diesel prices have surged by 55 rupees per liter—a record-breaking increase—due to the war disrupting global oil supplies. As Pakistan relies heavily on imported energy, this volatility has amplified inflationary pressures. “To stabilize the economy, we have taken difficult decisions,” Sharif stated in a televised address, acknowledging the challenge of controlling global fuel prices.
“To stabilize the economy, we have taken difficult decisions,” Prime Minister Sharif said in a televised address to the nation.
Additional steps include suspending the purchase of new official vehicles until June 2026, reflecting the government’s commitment to fiscal restraint. While these actions are designed to减轻 the strain on public resources, they also highlight the interconnectedness of regional conflicts with domestic economic stability.
