The federal government on Wednesday extended fuel conservation measures initiated due to the Iran war until June 30, while easing operating hours of markets, according to an official statement.
Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, a meeting of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Fuel Conservation and Additional Austerity Measures reviewed several exemptions sought by various ministries and divisions and finalized its recommendations.
According to the statement, the committee decided to allow consular attestation services at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its liaison offices in Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Gujrat, and Lahore on Fridays to facilitate the public. It also recommended extending the validity of austerity measures, originally set to expire on June 13, until June 30.
Additionally, the committee approved extending the closing time of standalone grocery and kiryana stores to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Previously, under the austerity measures, grocery stores had to be shuttered by 9 p.m. There has been no change to the timings of restaurants, cafés and eateries, which are allowed to operate until 11 p.m. Takeaway and delivery services remain exempt from all restrictions, as do essential services such as pharmacies, hospitals, fuel stations, and I.T. and telecom services.
In its previous meeting, the committee had directed provincial governments to ensure effective enforcement of the revised guidelines in coordination with federal authorities.
Initially introduced in April, the austerity measures are part of the government’s strategy to tackle rising fuel costs amidst Iran’s blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. The government briefly eased the restrictions ahead of and during Eidul Azha but restored most of them from May , with multiple provincial and federal relaxations granted throughout May 31.