The federal government on Wednesday announced revised business and commercial closing hours across Pakistan, permitting most shops, markets, and restaurants to operate later into the night as summer daylight hours increase and temperatures rise.
New Timings Approved by Prime Minister
According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the updated schedule with immediate effect. This move partially eases restrictions that were introduced under fuel conservation and austerity measures announced in April.
Detailed Schedule
Under the revised plan, shops, markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental stores, grocery outlets, and kiryana stores will now close at 9pm every day, including weekends. Marriage halls, marquees, and venues for festive events can operate until 10pm. Restaurants, cafés, eateries, food outlets, and standalone fruit and vegetable shops may remain open until 11pm. Takeaway and home delivery services are exempt from these restrictions.
Exemptions
The notification also exempts pharmacies, medical stores, laboratories, clinics, and hospitals from the prescribed timings. Additionally, standalone bakeries, tandoors, milk and dairy shops, fuel and CNG stations, electric vehicle charging facilities, gyms, sports facilities, padel courts, IT companies, and call centres are not subject to the closing times.
Implementation and Background
Provincial and regional governments have been advised to implement the new timings accordingly. These revised hours replace earlier restrictions that were part of the government's fuel conservation policy aimed at reducing energy consumption and managing fuel costs.
Fuel Crisis and Austerity Measures
The austerity measures were introduced after a sharp escalation in tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States disrupted global energy markets. Following military exchanges and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, international oil prices surged, driving up Pakistan's import bill and putting pressure on domestic fuel prices. In response, the government raised petroleum prices several times, with the steepest increases recorded in April. Officials stated that the adjustments were necessary to reflect higher international oil prices and ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies.
In March, to curb fuel consumption and reduce energy costs, the federal government imposed a series of austerity measures across Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. These measures included earlier closing times for markets and commercial centres, an additional weekly holiday for government offices, cuts to free fuel allocations for ministers, and restrictions on the use of official vehicles. The restrictions were temporarily eased ahead of Eid but were reinstated from April 1 as the government sought to manage the ongoing fuel crisis.
