Nepal Extends Weekends to Two Days as Fuel Crisis Sparks Radical Work Schedule Shift

Nepal's government has stunned the nation by announcing a radical shift in work schedules, extending weekends to two days as the country grapples with a deepening fuel crisis. The decision, unveiled in an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday, marks a seismic change for a nation that had long relied on Saturday as its sole day off. With oil prices soaring due to the escalating conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran, Nepal's reliance on India for nearly all its fuel imports has left it vulnerable to global market shocks. The move to close government offices and educational institutions on both Saturdays and Sundays is a desperate attempt to conserve energy and ease the strain on a system already teetering under the weight of skyrocketing fuel costs.

The crisis has rippled through daily life, with civil servants now working Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while schools and universities face unprecedented disruptions. For millions of Nepalis, the shift means fewer days off for families, fewer hours for workers, and mounting anxiety over how the economy will hold up. The government has hinted at exploring legal measures to transition vehicles to electric power, but officials remain vague on timelines or funding sources. In a country with no domestic oil reserves, the lack of alternative energy solutions has exposed the fragility of its infrastructure and the limits of its foreign policy dependencies.

Fuel shortages have already begun to cripple key sectors. Nepal Oil Corp, the state-owned petroleum company, revealed it is hemorrhaging money despite doubling aviation fuel prices earlier this week. The move has triggered a chain reaction, with airlines hiking airfares to cover costs, directly threatening Nepal's tourism-dependent economy. Travelers are now facing steep price increases for domestic and international flights, while local businesses that rely on tourist spending are bracing for a downturn. Meanwhile, the government's decision to sell half-filled cooking gas cylinders last month has done little to quell panic buying, with hoarding still rampant in urban centers.

The ripple effects of the Iran conflict are being felt far beyond Nepal's borders. Since the US and Israel launched their offensive on February 28, Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes across the region, destabilizing global markets and disrupting air travel routes. For Nepal, a landlocked nation with no direct ties to the Middle East, the crisis underscores the interconnectedness of modern economies. As Iran's retaliation continues, analysts warn that the fuel shortage could worsen unless international supply chains are stabilized.

For ordinary Nepalis, the immediate burden is clear. Commuters face longer hours on packed public transport, while small businesses grapple with rising operational costs. The government's measures, though necessary, have done little to address the root cause: Nepal's dependence on India for fuel. With no domestic energy production and limited infrastructure for alternative fuels, the country finds itself at the mercy of geopolitical tensions and global market volatility. As the crisis deepens, the question remains: how long can Nepal sustain its economy—and its people—on the brink of a fuel shortage that shows no signs of abating?