ISLAMABAD: The cou­ntry’s courts will be obser­ving four-day work weeks while litigants and counsel will be encouraged to participate in proceedings through video-link facilities, where feasible, as part of austerity measures amid the fuel crisis triggered by Middle East crisis following US-Israel war against Iran.

A notification issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan stated: “In view of likely disruption in the supply of petroleum products resulting in escalating energy costs, it is im­­perative to adopt prudent and responsible measures to conserve resources.”

The notification said that austerity and fuel conservation measures will be adopted in the Supreme Court of Pakistan with immediate effect until further notice.

The measures included four-day work weeks, from Monday to Thursday.

“The court shall obser­­ve holidays from Friday to Sunday,” the notification said.

The notification was issued after Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi chaired a virtual meeting of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) at the SC, where it was decided that similar measures would be adop­ted by the Federal Shariat Court (FSC), high courts and district courts.

The NJPMC said that all courts of Pakistan will adopt measures to reduce fuel consumption and promote efficient use of resources without compromising delivery of justice.

The Federal Constitu­tional Court (FCC) also announced similar steps in the light of the federal government’s announcement regarding austerity measures.

A notification said FCC steps would include maximum reduction of fuel for official vehicles and observance of four-day work weeks, with holidays from Friday to Sunday.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2026