ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday approved an extension in business closing hours across the country with immediate effect.
According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division and shared by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on X, the decision was taken in view of longer daylight hours and rising summer temperatures.
Under the revised timings, markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental stores, grocery shops, general stores and kiryana shops will now be allowed to remain open until 9pm throughout the week.
The notification further stated that marriage halls, marquees and other commercial venues hosting festive events will close at 10pm on all days. Restaurants, cafes, eateries, food outlets, as well as standalone fruit and vegetable shops, will be permitted to operate until 11pm. However, takeaway and home delivery services will remain exempt from these restrictions.
Several essential services have also been excluded from the prescribed timings. These include pharmacies, medical supply stores, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, bakeries, tandoors, milk and dairy outlets, fuel stations, electric vehicle charging facilities, gyms, sports venues, information technology companies and call centres.
The Cabinet Division directed that provincial and regional governments implement the revised timings accordingly.
The decision follows a meeting of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Austerity Measures, chaired by Ishaq Dar a day earlier. During the meeting, the committee agreed to extend the closing time for shops, markets, malls and other retail businesses to 9pm, citing longer daylight hours and increased summer temperatures.
Pakistan introduced unprecedented austerity measures on March 9 amid the global energy crisis triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the Middle East conflict. The measures were aimed at reducing energy consumption and easing economic pressures. On May 11, Prime Minister Shehbaz extended the nationwide austerity campaign until June 13.
Among the measures that remain in place is a 50 per cent reduction in fuel allowances for official vehicles, with operational vehicles such as ambulances and public buses exempted from the cuts.
The austerity plan also includes grounding 60pc of government vehicles and maintaining a complete ban on foreign travel by ministers and government officials, except for visits considered essential to safeguarding Pakistan’s national interests.