Shafaqna Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved revised closing hours for businesses nationwide with immediate effect, citing extended daylight hours and rising temperatures during the summer season.
According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division and shared by Ishaq Dar on X, the new timings apply to a broad range of commercial establishments across the country.
Under the revised schedule, markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental stores, grocery shops, general stores, and kiryana shops will close at 9pm throughout the week.
Marriage halls, marquees, and other event venues will be required to close by 10pm, while restaurants, cafés, eateries, food outlets, and standalone fruit and vegetable shops may operate until 11pm. However, takeaway and home delivery services have been exempted from the restrictions.
The notification further stated that pharmacies, medical stores, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, bakeries, tandoors, milk and dairy shops, fuel stations, electric vehicle charging points, gyms, sports facilities, IT companies and call centres will also remain exempt.
Provincial and regional governments have been advised to implement the revised timings accordingly.
The move follows earlier austerity measures aimed at reducing energy consumption, which included restrictions on operating hours and limits on official fuel usage, as part of broader efforts to manage economic and energy pressures amid Middle East crisis.
Source: Dunya News
