ISLAMABAD: The government is seriously considering the enforcement of a “smart lockdown” in the country as part of unp­recedented austerity measures, prompted by the ongoing global fuel crisis stemming from the US-Israel war on Iran and the latter’s response by targeting US military installations in oil-producing Gulf states. A source in the government familiar with the development told Dawn on Sunday that the government has prepared a plan to implement the smart lockdown, subject to the consent of provincial governments.

However, the Ministry of Information on Sunday refuted a notification of a “complete and comprehensive lockdown” on weekends, calling a widely circulated notification on social media fake. In a post on its fact-checking acco­unt on X, the ministry sha­red the document stamped with the word “fake”.

According to the source, President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to chair a crucial meeting on Monday at 4pm, where the proposal will be presented to the provincial authorities and other stakeholders regarding the smart lockdown. Besides Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the chief ministers are expe­cted to attend the meeting.

Information ministry refutes claims of complete shutdown

If approved, this would mark the country’s second ‘smart lockdown’ after the measures enforced during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21.

As an unsigned draft of the proposed smart lockdown was also circulating on social media on Sunday, a senior official pointed out, “It is a draft to be discussed in tomorrow’s 4pm meeting at presidency with all chief ministers.”

The proposed plan remains under discussion and will be reviewed at the presidency meeting, the official added.

The draft outlines several measures, including a lockdown every Saturday and Sunday starting from April 4 or 5. Under the proposal, all business, commercial, industrial, and service activities would be suspended during this period. Markets would remain closed, and public gatherings such as weddings would not be permitted. Essential services, including hospitals, pharmacies, airports, seaports, and railway stations, would remain operational. While highways and motorways would be closed to most traffic, public transport buses would be exempt.

The plan also calls on provincial chief secretaries to expedite the registration of two- and three-wheel vehicles to facilitate targeted subsidies.Separately, it has been reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet President Zardari to brief him further on the proposal.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2026