Pakistan puts its clocks forward by an hour

The concept of "daylight saving time" (DST) was introduced on Sunday midnight by putting clocks forward by an hour, but many claim the government had not done enough to publicise the measure that will remain in place for three months.

Pakistan has put its clocks forward to tide over an unprecedented energy crisis by taking advantage of an extra hour of daylight, creating consternation among the people and even raising the hackles of some.

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The concept of "daylight saving time" (DST) was introduced on Sunday by putting clocks forward by an hour at midnight, but many claimed that the government had not done enough to publicise the measure that will remain in place for three months.

Many Pakistanis were blissfully unaware that 8 o'clock was the new 9 o'clock and began their day an hour behind schedule, with some even landing in trouble for getting to work late.

Several office-goers punched their cards a good hour late at 9 am yesterday thinking it was 8 am and they were on time. Some others missed their 'namaz' with the prayer schedules going haywire.

"I was aware of the changed office timings, but I forgot to reset my clock and landed late in office. But thankfully the management went easy on us," said Saad Khan, who works for a telecom company in the federal capital.

There was confusion at the Lahore railway station as clocks were not put an hour ahead while the trains were running according to the new time. There was chaos and confusion as travellers tried to figure out the correct timings.