Islamabad private schools directed to adopt four-day work week

ISLAMABAD: All private educational institutions in Pakistan’s capital have been directed to adopt a four-day academic week as part of government efforts to conserve fuel and cut costs, officials said on Thursday.

In a notification issued by the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), on-campus teaching will be held from Monday to Thursday with immediate effect and remain in place until further notice.

The move comes amid broader austerity measures aimed at reducing energy consumption after global oil prices surged following geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The PEIRA secretary said the four-day schedule is part of efforts to manage operational costs and preserve fuel, but did not immediately say how long the change would last.

The shift aligns with similar decisions in neighbouring Punjab province, where authorities have also ordered schools, colleges and universities to observe a four-day week with Fridays as a holiday, and adjusted timings for double-shift institutions.

Officials have urged all private schools in Islamabad to fully implement the directive.