Pakistan Announces Fuel Austerity Measures: 50% Cut for Official Vehicles, Markets to Close at 8 PM

Pakistan announced on Thursday a series of austerity measures to save energy, as fuel prices continue to rise amid the crisis in Iran.

The measures include a 50 percent cut in fuel for official vehicles, a ban on vehicle purchases by the government, and the closure of markets and wedding halls at 8:00 PM.

Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistani army declared that the ongoing war in Iran has caused an “oil emergency” in the country.

The fuel crisis comes at a time when the Strait of Hormuz is nearly empty — only three cargo ships passed through on Wednesday — and maritime transport tariffs have reached their highest levels in many years.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is playing an active diplomatic role: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Beijing this week, while Islamabad has called for reviving the agreement to reopen Hormuz and implementing the Mecca defense pact.

Source: Al Jazeera