Islamabad: The Supreme Court has decided to implement austerity and energy conservation measures in courts across the country, approving a four-day working week for High Courts, the Federal Shariat Court and district courts.

The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee chaired by Chief Justice Afridi, where key steps were adopted in view of the ongoing energy crisis.

According to the decision, courts will function fully from Monday to Thursday, while activities on Friday and Saturday will remain limited. District courts will also operate under the four-day weekly system from Monday to Thursday.

The committee also decided to significantly reduce the monthly Petrol, Oil and Lubricants (POL) allowance for judges. POL allowance for judges of the High Courts and the Federal Shariat Court has been reduced by 50 percent, while the fuel allowance for judicial officers has been cut by 25 percent.

The meeting approved the promotion of video link usage in court proceedings and the introduction of rotational attendance for court staff. It also imposed restrictions on additional protocol and security vehicles in high-security zones, though security arrangements for judges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan will remain according to the prevailing situation.

The Supreme Court stated that the austerity measures have been adopted in light of the energy crisis and rising global prices, adding that the delivery of justice will not be affected despite these measures.