JAKARTA - Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh and South Korea have all introduced emergency measures to reduce fuel consumption since US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of global oil supply flows.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered 50 percent of public sector employees, excluding essential services, to work from home, and shifted government offices to a four-day week. Islamabad also closed schools for two weeks from March 16 and moved universities online. 

Pakistan relies on imports for more than 80 percent of its oil needs; between July 2025 and February 2026 its oil import bill was $10.71 billion. Petrol prices jumped 20 percent in a single week, which is the largest increase in the country’s history. 

Over in Southeast Asia, Thailand told non-frontline public servants to work from home, set office air conditioners to 26°C, banned overseas travel for civil servants and urged workers to use stairs. The country has about 95 days of combined reserves and confirmed incoming supply, per the Energy Ministry. 

The Philippines mandated public agencies to adopt a four-day work week, virtual meetings where possible, and office air conditioning at 24°C.  Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade urged all citizens to work remotely if possible and ride bicycles instead of motorised vehicles. 

In East Asia, South Korea activated emergency energy conservation protocols and imposed fuel price caps. Japan, like South Korea, joined the IEA's coordinated release of 400 million barrels from emergency reserves agreed on March 11.

Bangladesh closed all universities by bringing forward Eid al-Fitr holidays to cut electricity demand, and introduced fuel rationing for vehicles. The country imports 95 percent of its energy needs and is the world's second largest garment exporter, with factory production increasingly disrupted by power cuts.

India did not order WFH but directed refineries to increase LPG output and prioritised household supply, redirecting imported LPG to hospitals and schools.