Senate ends fuel conservation, austerity measures after fuel prices ease

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Secretariat has terminated all “Fuel Conservation and Additional Austerity Measures” with immediate effect and will return to a regular five-day work week with full staff strength from June 22 (Monday). The rollback comes following a US-Iran deal and a subsequent reduction in fuel prices. According to a notification issued on Saturday, and signed by Deputy Secretary HRM-I Qasim Omer, the measures introduced since March 12, 2026, have been withdrawn. The notification, issued with the approval of the chairman Senate, says that the secretariat will work Monday to Friday with full staff strength. The office hours will be 9am to 5pm on non-session days and until the conclusion of a session when it is underway. The notification has been marked for “immediate publication in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary)”. Copies have been sent to all senators, Senate office-bearers, the Cabinet Division, and senior officials. The government imposed fuel conservation and austerity measures in mid-March 2026 to cut non-essential spending amid high global oil prices and IMF fiscal targets. Lower crude prices following diplomatic developments between Washington and Tehran have since eased pressure on Pakistan’s import bill, allowing ministries and departments to restore normal operations. A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved termination of all ‘fuel conservation and additional austerity measures’ notified by the Cabinet Division from time to time since March 9, except for market timings specified in notifications of June 3 and 10, which shall remain applicable.