The federal government announced on Monday that markets and shopping malls in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) will close by 8pm to save energy and enforce austerity measures.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), this decision was made during a key review meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which focused on energy conservation, petroleum product management, and austerity steps.
The PMO statement noted that in K-P, divisional headquarters will be allowed to keep markets and malls open until 9pm, following consultations with the provincial government.
Under the new rules, general stores, departmental stores, and all types of malls must close by 8pm. However, bakeries, restaurants, tandoors, and food outlets can remain open until 10pm. The government has also prohibited weddings and other events at marriage halls, marquees, and commercial venues after 10pm.
Private homes will also not be allowed to host weddings or social gatherings past 10pm. Medical stores and pharmacies are exempt from these restrictions. These measures will start from April 7.
The PMO said the Sindh government is still discussing market timings and operational hours, and the prime minister is hopeful that after consultations, Sindh will join the nationwide initiative.
In a positive move, the PMO announced that public transport in Gilgit city and Muzaffarabad will be free for one month, with costs covered by the federal government.
The meeting also provided an update on transferring petroleum subsidies via digital wallets, with 100,000 transactions already completed successfully.
PM Shehbaz thanked the chief ministers of Punjab, K-P, Balochistan, G-B, and the AJK PM for their support and cooperation on these important matters and expressed confidence that Sindh will soon follow the federal government’s decision after consultations.
