Punjab relaxes market closing time restrictions until June 1

LAHORE: The Punjab Government on Friday relaxed business operating hour restrictions across the province until June 1, suspending the mandatory closure of markets and commercial centres by 8pm.

According to an official notification, the decision will apply to markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and food outlets throughout Punjab, with immediate effect.

Ali Ejaz said the relaxation in market timings would provide relief to traders and make shopping more convenient for citizens.

“Providing relief to traders is the government’s priority,” he said, adding that there would no longer be any restriction requiring markets to shut by 8pm from Friday onwards.

Business hours had been curtailed across the country last month as part of energy conservation measures introduced following a sharp rise in domestic fuel prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.

In a handout issued on April 6, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that shopping malls, departmental stores and shops dealing in daily-use items would close at 8pm in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The restrictions were part of the federal government’s broader austerity and fuel conservation plan aimed at reducing energy consumption amid rising fuel costs.

Read More: Pakistan seeks early restoration of direct flights to US, says Mohsin Naqvi

In line with the federal policy, the Punjab government had also imposed province-wide measures to cut fuel and electricity consumption.

Besides shorter business hours, educational institutions were directed to hold physical classes only from Monday to Thursday, while public transport services including the Orange Line Metro Train, Metro Bus, Speedo and Green Bus were made free for commuters.

As part of the relief package announced earlier, the provincial government introduced a subsidy of Rs100 per litre of diesel per acre for farmers, while motorcyclists were offered Rs100 on every 20 litres of petrol purchased.

The government also reduced allowances of Punjab Assembly members by 25% for two months and withdrew 70% of official assembly vehicles from road use.