Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday approved the extension in closing timings for businesses with immediate effect.
According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental stores, grocery shops, general stores and kiryana shops will now close at 9pm throughout the week. Marriage halls, marquees and other commercial venues for festive events will close at 10pm, while restaurants, cafes, eateries, food outlets, and standalone fruit and vegetable shops will close at 11pm. Takeaway and home delivery services remain exempt.
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 have been exempted from these timings.
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The decision was taken in view of longer daylight hours and rising temperatures in summer. Provincial and regional governments have been advised to implement these new timings.
This development follows a meeting of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Austerity Measures chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The government had earlier announced austerity measures in March due to the global energy crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Middle East war. These measures were later extended till June 13.
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