Shops, bazaars to remain open until 9:00 PM

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting of the Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of Austerity Measures at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where ongoing austerity measures were reviewed and key decisions regarding business operating hours were approved.

According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the committee decided to extend business closing hours in view of market working schedules, increased daylight hours, and high summer temperatures.

Under the new decision, shops, bazaars, shopping malls, and general retail businesses will remain open until 9:00 pm. Restaurants, cafes, and food and beverage outlets will be allowed to operate until 11:00 pm.

However, takeaway and delivery services have been exempted from these restrictions.

Marriage halls and event venues will be permitted to remain open until 10:00 pm, while essential services including pharmacies, hospitals, petrol pumps, IT, and telecom services have also been exempted from the revised timing framework.

The committee directed provincial governments to ensure effective implementation of these instructions in coordination with federal authorities.

The meeting also considered and approved other agenda items.

The session was attended by Federal Ministers for Petroleum, Climate Change, Information, and IT and Telecom, as well as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Finance and the Special Assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister. Senior officials from the Secretaries of Commerce, Cabinet, Petroleum, and IT and Telecommunications, along with representatives of provincial governments, also participated in the meeting.