Punjab authorities in Pakistan have yet to decide on market closures — Dawn
The government of Pakistan’s Punjab province has not yet made a final decision on introducing early closures for commercial establishments, although the federal authorities have reinstated fuel-saving measures. Business representatives opposed the restrictions, saying that reducing operating hours would help neither cut costs nor save fuel.
As Dawn reports, Punjab government representatives have already held three meetings with traders. According to an unnamed senior provincial official, business owners pointed to the difficult overall economic situation and did not support the proposal to set new closing hours for markets.
Federal restrictions
On September 17, Pakistan’s federal government introduced a number of restrictions to conserve fuel and reduce spending. The reason cited was disruptions to oil supplies linked to the conflict in the Middle East, which caused global oil prices to rise.
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Under the federal measures, shopping centers, markets, department stores, and grocery shops must close at 9:00 p.m. Fuel allocations for official vehicles, except for transport used by the armed forces, civilian security agencies, and law enforcement, were reduced by 50%.
Traders’ position and previous rules
During the talks, traders said that people would continue to visit markets, including food establishments, so a fixed closing time would not deliver the expected savings. The official also noted that fluctuations in fuel prices create uncertainty for the authorities as well.
In March, Punjab had already introduced cost-cutting measures and restricted business operating hours. In May, some of the rules were revised, exempting sports facilities, gyms, IT companies, and call centers from the restrictions. Previously, commercial establishments were allowed to operate from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, and from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays. Further consultations between the provincial government and business owners will continue.
