ISLAMABAD (HRNW) : In a landmark decision to support national austerity measures, the National Judicial Policy Making Committee, chaired by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, has approved an emergency shift to a four-day working week for courts nationwide. Amid potential petroleum supply disruptions and soaring energy costs, the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court, all High Courts, and District Courts will now operate at full capacity from Monday to Thursday, while internal arrangements will be made for urgent administrative and judicial matters on Fridays and Saturdays. To further alleviate the burden on the national exchequer, the committee has slashed the petrol (POL) allowance of High Court and Federal Shariat Court judges by 50%, while judicial officers will face a 25% reduction. Furthermore, the use of additional protocol and security vehicles within high-security zones has been banned—except in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan where security remains a priority—and the judiciary will aggressively promote video-link hearings for lawyers and litigants to minimize travel. Despite introducing a rotational attendance system for staff to ensure responsible resource consumption, the Chief Justice emphasized that the delivery of justice will remain uninterrupted, marking a significant gesture of judicial solidarity with national efforts to conserve energy and public funds.
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