KARACHI: The government of Sindh has announced a public holiday across the province on March 13 (Friday) on the occasion of Juma-tul-Wida, according to a notification issued on Thursday.

The notification, released by the provincial services department, stated that all government offices, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, corporations and local councils under the administrative control of the Sindh government will remain closed, except for essential services.

The announcement came a day after Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah confirmed that the holiday would be observed to mark Juma-tul-Wida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

The provincial government had already implemented a work-from-home policy on Fridays as part of an austerity and fuel conservation plan.

These steps form part of a broader austerity drive launched after a national savings plan introduced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The measures come as Pakistan faces supply disruptions following tensions in the Middle East that have affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.