The federal government on Monday announced that markets and shopping malls in all provinces except Sindh will close at 8 p.m. from April 7 (today), as part of energy conservation measures amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The government decided to proceed with early closure of businesses during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on petroleum supplies and pricing. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said markets, shopping malls, departmental stores, and daily-use goods shops would close at 8 p.m. in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
It said divisional headquarters markets and malls may remain open until 9 p.m. in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Additionally, it said, bakeries, restaurants, tandoors, and food outlets and marriage halls would close at 10 p.m., while private properties and homes would face restrictions on wedding celebrations beyond 10 p.m.
Medical stores and pharmacies are exempt from these measures.
During the meeting, the prime minister also announced that intercity public transport in Gilgit and Muzaffarabad would be free for one month.
The center’s announcement followed the provincial governments of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan ordering the early closure of markets, wedding halls and restaurants under energy conservation measures. On Tuesday, the Punjab government officially notified the early closures in light of the prime minister’s decision.
The ongoing Iran war has roiled fuel prices globally, with countries scrambling to ration fuel and energy to reduce their import expenditures.
Earlier, Islamabad had announced a wide-ranging austerity and fuel conservation plan, including a four-day workweek, a cut in fuel allowance and a 20% reduction in all government departments’ expenditures.