Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved new closing timings of markets, malls and restaurants across the country. According to the new timings, all shops, markets and malls will be closed at 9 pm and the marriage halls, marques and commercial centres will be closed at 10 pm. Restaurants, hotels, and vegetable shops will be closed at 11 pm. All medical stores, IT companies, tandoors, gymnasiums, and full stations will be exempted from these timings. The cabinet division already issued a notification in this regard. 

Earlier, on Tuesday, the federal government, amid deliberations over its ongoing austerity measures, decided to extend the operating hours of shops, markets, restaurants, and other commercial outlets, citing longer daylight hours and rising summer temperatures. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Austerity Measures, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The government had announced unprecedented austerity measures on March 9 in the wake of the Middle East war to deal with the global energy crisis, which had arisen due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. 

“The Committee also directed provincial governments to ensure effective implementation of these guidelines in coordination with federal authorities,” the statement said. On May 11, PM Shehbaz had extended the countrywide austerity drive till June 13. The measures extended included a 50 percent reduction in fuel allowance for official vehicles, with the exemption of operational vehicles such as ambulances and public buses.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)