Kathmandu: The government has decided to declare Saturday and Sunday as public holidays for government offices and all educational institutions, effective from Chaitra 23, in response to ongoing petroleum supply disruptions.

The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on Sunday, according to government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel. He stated that, except for educational institutions, office hours for government bodies will now run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Key Cabinet Decisions
Alongside the two-day weekend policy, the Cabinet approved several important measures:
-Acceptance of concessional loans totaling 90 million USD—40 million from the Asian Development Bank and 50 million from the World Bank—for the Digital Nepal Transformation Project.
-Approval of an additional 95 million USD concessional loan from the World Bank for the Sustainable and Inclusive Finance Project.
-In-principle approval to restructure the organization and management of ministries, secretariats, commissions, and subordinate bodies of the Government of Nepal.
-Acceptance of the resignation of National News Committee Executive Chairman Dharmendra Jha.
-Implementation of a two-day public holiday (Saturday and Sunday) due to fuel supply constraints.
-Directive to make necessary legal arrangements to convert diesel and petrol vehicles into electric vehicles.
-Decision to begin the upcoming academic session from Baisakh 15, 2083.

Possible Impact of Two-Day Weekly Holiday
The introduction of a two-day weekend is seen as a short-term strategy to manage the fuel crisis, but its impact is likely to be mixed.

On the positive side, it is expected to reduce fuel consumption, ease traffic congestion, and lower environmental pollution. Extended daily office hours are intended to maintain service delivery despite fewer working days.

However, concerns remain about potential delays in public services due to reduced working days. People in rural areas may face longer waiting times to access government services. Additionally, lack of coordination with the private sector could affect economic activity, while unclear implementation guidelines may create confusion in the education sector.

There is also skepticism based on past experience, as a similar two-day weekend system previously implemented did not sustain in the long term.

Overall, while the decision may help in immediate crisis management, experts suggest that clear planning, coordination, and impact assessment will be crucial for its effective implementation.