Sharjeel Memon says decisions taken in view of Middle East crisis due to US-Israel war against Iran
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon addresses the press conference in Karachi. Photo: Express/ File
KARACHI:
The Sindh government has announced that schools across the province will remain closed from March 16 to March 31, while a partial work-from-home arrangement will be introduced for government employees, with staff working from home on Fridays.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the decisions were taken in view of the Middle East crisis due to the US-Israel war against Iran. He clarified that examinations scheduled during this period will not be postponed. Government offices will continue regular operations from Monday to Thursday, with Fridays designated for remote work as part of the temporary arrangement, he added.
The cabinet also approved the Student Attendance Monitoring and Redress System (SAMRS) policy, which will use a mobile app and digital dashboard to track student attendance and enrollment.
In addition to these, the cabinet announced several austerity measures, including the suspension of all government-funded refreshments in public offices for the next two months, particularly during Ramazan. Employees may use water or other items at their own expense if they wish, he said.
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Memon further stated that the country is facing economic and administrative challenges, and collective efforts are required to address them. “Given the economic and administrative challenges facing the country, it is important that everyone contributes collectively to overcome them,” the minister said.
The cabinet also approved the Sindh Agriculture Women Workers Rules, aimed at improving protections for women in the agricultural sector. Under the new rules, women agricultural workers will receive equal wages and maternity benefits, with legal protections against harassment and discrimination.
The government further approved the issuance of Benazir Women Agricultural Workers Cards and the establishment of a Rs500 million endowment fund to support women agricultural workers’ welfare.
Memon stressed that empowering women and ensuring their protection is a core government responsibility, noting that measures of this scale had not previously been implemented for women in the agricultural sector.
The cabinet also approved additional funding for Hassan Suleman Memorial Hospital in Malir. The modern 312-bed facility, located on the National Highway, is expected to provide citizens with high-quality healthcare services.
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A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also announced a four-day work week and work-from-home policy as part of wide-ranging austerity measures in light of the fuel crunch caused by the prevailing Middle East crisis following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran.
Addressing the nation, the prime minister announced a number of measures as part of an overall austerity plan to manage the current situation. He said a meeting was held today in which both federal and provincial governments participated and several important decisions were made.
The prime minister said that for the next two months, fuel allocated to government vehicles would be reduced by 50%, except for ambulances. Further, 60% of vehicles used by government departments would be taken off the roads.
The prime minister said that members of the cabinet, including ministers, advisers and special assistants, would not draw salaries for two months while the salaries of members of parliament would be reduced by 25%. “Expenditures of all government departments, apart from salaries, will be reduced by 20%,” he further said.
PM Shehbaz said that senior government officials in Grade 20 and above, earning more than Rs300,000 per month, would have two days’ salary deducted, which would be used to provide relief to the public.
He said the government has also imposed a complete ban on the purchase of vehicles, furniture, air conditioners and other equipment by government departments as part of cost-cutting measures.
In addition, the prime minister announced a complete ban on foreign visits by federal and provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and other government officials, except for trips deemed “essential for national interest”. He added that the restriction would also apply to provincial governors.
The premier said the government would prioritise teleconferencing and online meetings to reduce official expenditures. “Official dinners and Iftar parties funded by the government have also been banned,” he said, adding that seminars and conferences would now be held at government facilities instead of hotels to further curb spending.
To conserve fuel and energy, PM Shehbaz said the government would implement work-from-home arrangements across the public and private sectors for 50% of employees, except for essential services.
The prime minister further said that offices would operate only four days a week, with an additional weekly holiday introduced to save fuel. This policy would not apply to banks. He added that the industry and agriculture sectors would not be subject to work-from-home arrangements or the additional weekly holiday.
The prime minister also announced that all schools would be given two weeks of holidays from the end of the current week, while all higher education institutions would immediately shift to online classes.
