Islamabad - Pakistan on Sunday adopted daylight saving time for three months to cut its massive energy deficit that has strained household and commercial activity alike.

Clocks went forward by an hour on the stroke of midnight on Saturday, putting the national time six hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time.

Pakistan, which is currently facing an energy shortfall of around 4,500 megawatts coupled with low water levels in dams, had experimented with the mechanism twice in the past but with little success.

The latest attempt came as part of a two-pronged strategy focusing on energy conservation as well as fast-track electricity generation through international ventures.

The government has also asked shopkeepers to close their businesses by 9 pm, besides switching to Friday as the weekly.

Authorities hope to save 500 megawatts by snapping power supply to billboards and operating street lamps in alternate pattern.

Pakistan has been struck by its worst energy crisis since the start of this year, resulting in regular and often unannounced power cuts that invite a lot of flak from the consumers. (dpa)