The federal cabinet okayed a two-day weekend for government personnel on Tuesday, but no decision on early market closure could be made.

The meeting was hosted by Prime Minister (PM) Shahbaz Sharif, during which methods to limit loadshedding, which has increased in recent weeks, were reviewed. The meeting was unable to reach a consensus on early market closures and referred the matter to a sub-committee for additional study and consultation with stakeholders.

Power Division gave a summary for the Energy Conservation Measure at today’s meeting, which included market closures by 7 pm with Saturdays off due to rising petroleum prices, according to Geo.

As part of the austerity plan to decrease costs, the cabinet also approved a 40 per cent reduction in government employees’ petrol entitlement.

Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif proposed four and a half working days a week on Monday to help save fuel and energy in the face of rising fuel prices and power shortages.

“In the current situation, all around the country, there should be a total holiday on Saturday and Sunday and a half working day on Friday in every week,” the defence minister stated on Twitter.

He suggested that there should be four and a half working days in a week, as well as an hour increase in office hours during working days.

The federal minister, in another meeting, suggested changing market schedules at a separate meeting last week, which was led by the premier.

Khawaja Asif has strenuously opposed the idea to open markets from 1 pm to 1 am, arguing that marketplaces should only be open during the day to maximise the use of sunshine, which is accessible 365 days a year.

He had stated that even without Karachi, we could save 3,500MW if the markets adjusted their timings correctly, but that painful decisions would have to be taken.