Fuel crisis forces Nepal to adopt Saturday-Sunday holiday, office timings revised to 9–5

Nepal has announced a two-day weekly holiday for government offices in response to a growing shortage of petroleum products linked to disruptions caused by the Iran war. The new arrangement replaces the earlier system where only Saturday was observed as a weekly holiday.

Under the revised policy, government offices will now remain closed on both Saturday and Sunday. To compensate for the reduced working days, the government has extended office hours, with departments now operating from 9 am to 5 pm instead of the earlier schedule of 10 am to 5 pm. Government spokesperson Sasmita Pokharel said the decision was taken after petroleum supply disruptions created an uncomfortable situation in the country. The new working system will come into effect from Monday. However, the revised office timings will apply only to government departments, while educational institutions will remain closed on weekends.

The fuel crisis has also led to a sharp rise in aviation fuel prices in the country. Nepal Oil Corporation recently increased aviation fuel rates for international flights by up to 117.4 percent to ensure timely payments to Indian Oil Corporation and prevent further supply disruptions.