Govt considering mandatory work from home amid fears of petrol shortage

Amid reports of an imminent petrol shortage in Pakistan, the government is set to take a series of corrective measures, including mandatory work from home wherever possible for the public and private sectors.

Other measures include weekly revision of petroleum prices and compensation for oil companies for elevated costs of insurance and import premiums. These measures are aimed at keeping the markets liquid amid the drying out of trade movement following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

In this regard, a summary has been submitted to the federal cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for action without delay as petroleum prices appeared to surge.

The idea of remote work is not new to Pakistan and Pakistanis. Remote work during COVID-19 was a forced, rapid, and, for many, entirely new transition that shifted from being considered a rare luxury to a necessary business survival strategy.

Remote work facilitated business continuity in sectors like IT and services, although it was deeply challenging for many due to infrastructure limitations and a cultural preference for office-based work.