Government considers weekend smart lockdown to curb energy use

The federal government is weighing a proposal to implement a two-day “smart lockdown” each week as part of efforts to curb nationwide energy and fuel usage.According to sources, the plan has been shared with provincial administrations, as well as officials in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, to gather feedback before a final decision is taken.If approved, the restrictions would run from Saturday afternoon through Sunday midnight, suspending commercial activities—including weddings—while keeping markets, offices, and other non-essential services closed.Authorities say the initiative is intended to reduce strain on energy supplies by temporarily scaling down economic activity during peak demand periods.