Islamabad: A high-level judicial body on Tuesday approved a series of austerity and energy conservation measures for courts across Pakistan as the country seeks to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices amid tensions in the Middle East.
The decisions were taken during an emergent virtual meeting of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, according to a statement issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by the chief justices of the Federal Shariat Court and provincial high courts, while the Office of the Attorney General for Pakistan joined the session on special invitation.
The committee approved a comprehensive Judicial Austerity and Energy Conservation Strategy aimed at ensuring responsible use of national resources while maintaining uninterrupted access to justice across the country.
The measures come in response to concerns over potential disruptions in petroleum supplies and rising energy costs.
Under the approved plan, the Federal Shariat Court and all high courts will observe a four-day working week from Monday to Thursday.
However, the courts may adopt internal arrangements to ensure urgent judicial and administrative matters continue on Fridays and Saturdays without disruption.
District courts will also operate fully from Monday to Thursday, while relevant high courts may maintain minimal staff presence on Fridays and Saturdays depending on operational requirements.
The committee also decided to reduce the monthly Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) allowance for judges of the Federal Shariat Court and high courts by 50 percent, while judicial officers will face a 25 percent reduction.
In addition, no additional protocol or security vehicles will be deployed for movement within designated high-security zones, though route security arrangements will continue as required.
The committee noted that judges and judicial officers serving in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan would maintain security arrangements according to prevailing circumstances.
To further reduce fuel consumption, litigants and lawyers will be encouraged to participate in hearings through video-link facilities wherever feasible, including through premises of high courts and district courts.
The Federal Shariat Court and high courts were also directed to introduce rotational attendance for staff to reduce commuting while ensuring essential court operations continue smoothly.
Meanwhile, the federal government has decided that the additional weekly holiday under the austerity plan will be observed on Fridays.
The decision was confirmed during a review meeting on austerity and fuel conservation chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who recently announced a broad set of measures aimed at reducing government expenditures and conserving fuel.