#Egypt to hold national poll on daylight saving time

The cabinet previously announced that clocks would go forward one hour starting on 1 May

Egypt's prime minister on Saturday ordered a governmental think-tank to hold a national opinion poll to ask citizens whether or not they support daylight saving time.

Along with asking the Cabinet's Information and Decision support Center (IDSC) to conduct the survey, Mahlab also called on the media to hold polls.

The cabinet previously announced that clocks would go forward one hour starting on 1 May, but it is not clear if this decision has been suspended until poll results are announced.

Egypt first adopted daylight saving time in 1988 as a way to reduce electricity consumption, but in April 2011 the cabinet endorsed a decree to cancel changing clocks in summer.

The practice returned in May 2014, after fuel shortages led to electricity cuts nationwide.

In the summer of 2014, Egypt changed the clock four times, first applying daylight saving time, and then suspending it during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to shorten fasting hours from dawn till dusk.

Standard time in Egypt is GMT + 2, and GMT + 3 during daylight saving time.