Pakistan changes grocery stores timings amid austerity drive

ISLAMABAD – The federal government has decided to extend the operating hours of small grocery and general stores across the country. The decision was taken in a meeting of the committee on fuel conservation and additional austerity measures chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The meeting reviewed exemption requests submitted by various ministries as well as the implementation of ongoing cost-saving initiatives. New Timings for Grocery Stores. It was agreed, in the meeting, to extend the operating hours of small grocery and general stores across the country until 10:00 pm. The new timing will apply throughout the week, including Saturdays and Sundays. MOFA Attestation It was decided that consular attestation services at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its liaison offices in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Gujrat will remain open on Fridays to facilitate the public. The committee also recommended extending the duration of additional austerity measures, which are currently set to expire on June 13, 2026, until June 30, 2026. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Petroleum, Minister for Climate Change, Minister for IT and Telecom, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Finance, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Special Assistant, and senior officials from the Cabinet Division, Commerce Ministry, Petroleum Division, and IT Ministry.