The federal government has approved revised operating hours for businesses and markets across the country in response to longer daylight hours and rising summer temperatures.
The decision was made during a meeting of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Austerity Measures, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After reviewing existing austerity measures, the committee agreed to extend operating hours for major commercial sectors to facilitate public activity during the summer season.
Under the new schedule, shops, markets, shopping malls, and other retail outlets will remain open until 9:00 PM. Restaurants, cafés, and eateries will be allowed to operate until 11:00 PM, while takeaway and delivery services will continue without any time restrictions.
The committee decided to maintain the existing closing time for marriage halls and event venues, which will continue to close at 10:00 PM.
Essential services, including pharmacies, hospitals, fuel stations, and IT and telecommunications operations, have been exempted from the revised timing restrictions.
The committee also instructed provincial governments to ensure effective implementation of the updated operating hours in coordination with relevant federal authorities.
In addition to the revised timings, members reviewed several other austerity-related matters and approved additional proposals during the meeting.
The session was attended by federal ministers responsible for Petroleum, Climate Change, Information, and IT & Telecommunications, along with the Special Assistants to the Prime Minister for Finance and the Deputy Prime Minister. Senior officials from key ministries and representatives of provincial governments also participated in the discussions.
