Austerity measures return as Islamabad works to conserve fuel amid renewed West Asia tensions
Published : 18 Sep 2026, 12:34 PM
Pakistan has brought back a raft of austerity measures, ordering markets to close by 9pm, restricting wedding feasts to a single dish and halving fuel allowances for official vehicles as it seeks to conserve fuel amid renewed tensions in West Asia.
The measures took effect on Thursday, Dawn reports.
Under the new timings:
• Shops, markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental, grocery, general and kiryana stores must close by 9pm.
• Marriage halls, marquees and other venues hosting festive events must close by 10pm.
• Restaurants, cafés, eateries, food outlets and standalone fruit and vegetable shops must close by 11pm. Takeaway and home delivery services are exempt.
• Pharmacies, medical stores, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, bakeries, tandoors, milk and dairy shops, fuel and CNG stations, electric vehicle charging stations, gyms, sports and padel courts, IT companies and call centres are exempt from time restrictions.
Only a single dish is to be served at all wedding-related functions or events, according to the Pakistani daily.
Fuel, Spending Cuts
Fuel allowances for official vehicles will be cut by 50 percent for three months.
The restriction does not apply to vehicles used by the armed forces, civil armed forces, law enforcement, essential services or the Federal Board of Revenue, except those belonging to their administrative or non-operational units. Vehicles used for development projects are also exempt.
The government will also:
• Cut non-employee-related spending budgets by 5 per cent monthly in FY2026-27.
• Ban purchases of all vehicles, except for development projects.
• Ban purchases of durable goods, except IT equipment and services.
• Apply the spending cut to foreign missions and officials posted there, while continuing to cover rent, education fees and medical care.
Foreign Travel, Official Events
Foreign travel by government officials will be banned for three months, including officially required trips.
Exemptions include scholarships offered by international development partners and training or courses arranged through the Economic Affairs Division or under government institutional agreements.
For obligatory and important events abroad, Pakistan will be represented by its ambassador or high commissioner in the country concerned.
Where a visit is considered unavoidable, ministers, advisers, ministers of state, special assistants to the prime minister and other parliamentary and government functionaries must travel in economy class.
Officials have also been directed to:
• Hold meetings preferably through teleconferencing, except intra-city meetings.
• Avoid official dinners, except for visiting foreign delegations.
• Stop government-funded seminars, training and conferences, unless unavoidable. Such events must use government facilities.
Exemptions may be considered case by case by the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Fuel Conservation and Additional Austerity Measures, subject to approval by the Pakistani prime minister.
Measures Return Amid Fuel Concerns
Pakistan first imposed the measures on Mar 9 to mitigate the impact of the US-Iran war.
They included a 50 percent cut in official vehicle fuel allowances, salary cuts for lawmakers and partial work-from-home arrangements in the public sector.
The government ended the measures on Jun 19, except for market timings, as per Dawn.
The latest steps come as renewed hostilities disrupt major oil supply routes and push up fuel prices.
The US-Iran war has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while trade through Bab al-Mandab, a key route for Saudi oil exports in recent months, also faces growing threats from Houthi rebels.
