Pakistan, which faces an energy shortfall of 4,000 MW, has twice before attempted to introduce daylight saving time but has failed on both occasions, Dawn reported Thursday.


At a special meeting on the energy crisis held here Wednesday, the federal cabinet decided to call for international bids for generating 1,200 MW of electricity on a fast-track basis.

The country’s industrial zones will now observe off days on a rotation basis and air-conditioners in all government offices will be switched off between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Half of the street lights will remain switched off during the next three months.

The government will also import 10 million energy-saving bulbs.