PM Shehbaz approves extension in business timings

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday approved revised closing timings for businesses 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 light of “longer daylight hours and rising temperatures in summer”. The notification stated that markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental stores, grocery shops, general stores and kiryana shops will close at 9m throughout the week. Marriage halls, marquees and all other commercial venues where festive events are held will close at 10pm throughout the week. Meanwhile, restaurants, cafes, eateries, food outlets, and standalone fruit and vegetable shops will close at 11pm; takeaway and home delivery will be exempt. In addition, pharmacies, medical supply stores, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, bakeries, tandoors, milk and dairy shops, fuel pumps, electric vehicle charging stations, gyms, sports facilities, information technology companies and call centres will be exempt from the timings. Earlier, the federal government had on Tuesday, amid deliberations over ongoing austerity measures, decided to extend operating hours for 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. On May 11, PM Shehbaz had extended the countrywide austerity drive till June 13. The measures extended included 50 per cent reduction in fuel allowance for official vehicles, with the exemption of operational vehicles such as ambulances and public buses. Other steps included grounding 60pc of official vehicles and a complete ban on foreign visits by ministers and government officials, excluding those deemed essential for the country’s interests, as specified the last time.