The federal cabinet on Monday temporarily lifted the previously imposed business closing-time restrictions introduced under austerity measures across the country. According to an official notification, a wide range of commercial activities have been exempted from the restrictions until May 31.
In a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the immediate suspension of the earlier order issued on April 6, which had fixed operating hours for businesses.
Under the new decision, shops, departmental stores, bazaars, markets, and shopping malls can now remain open without any limit on closing times throughout the week. Bakeries, tandoors, restaurants, and grocery stores have also been allowed to continue operations without restrictions on business hours.
The order, signed by a joint secretary of the Cabinet Division, stated that the decision came into effect immediately and would stay in place until May 31.
Read Also: Pakistan Railways revises Karachi train schedule, services face delays
Earlier, the federal government had enforced austerity measures in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Under those rules, general stores, departmental stores, and malls were required to close by 8pm, while bakeries, restaurants, tandoors, and other food outlets could stay open until 10pm.
“Private properties and homes will also be prohibited from hosting weddings or social gatherings past 10pm. However, medical stores and pharmacies will remain exempt from these restrictions,” the April 6 notification stated.
The government had also announced several additional austerity steps, including an extra weekly holiday, cuts in free petrol allocations for ministers, restrictions on protocol vehicles, and a proposal to provide subsidised fuel for students.
On May 6, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon revised the capital’s business timings under the austerity policy. Separately, the Sindh government announced on Saturday that shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, marriage halls, and marquees would also be exempted from the earlier closing-time restrictions.