ISLAMABAD: The federal government is considering different options, including an early closure of markets to conserve energy amid the rising prices of petroleum products, Geo News reported Tuesday, citing sources.

A meeting of the Federal Cabinet is underway, during which measures to control load-shedding will be discussed that has multiplied in the last few weeks.

According to the sources, the cabinet may take a decision to close the markets at 7pm and restore the two-day weekend while the concerned officials will present a plan to curtail load-shedding in today’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has proposed four and a half working days in a week to help conserve fuel and energy amid soaring fuel prices and power shortages.

The defence minister took to his Twitter to share his suggestions and wrote, “In the current situation, all over the country, there should be a complete holiday on Saturday and Sunday and a half working day on Friday in every week.”

He proposed that there should be four and a half working days in a week, adding that there should be an increase in office timings by an hour in working days.

In a separate meeting last week chaired by the premier, the federal minister gave a suggestion to change market timings.

Khawaja Asif had strongly opposed the proposal to open markets from 1pm noon to 1am, emphasising to open markets only in the daytime to utilise sunlight properly, as it is available for 365 days.

He had said that if the markets would adjust their timings accordingly, we could save 3,500MW even without Karachi, adding that tough decisions have to be made.