Punjab relaxes market timing curbs till June 1

The Punjab Services and General Administration Depa­r­tment’s (S&GAD) Impleme­ntation and Coordination Wing on Friday notified that “all the shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and food outlets are exempted from the prescribed closure timings till June 1, 2026”. On April 6, the federal government announced that all markets across the country, barring Sindh, would close by 8pm throughout the week as part of energy conservation measures amid a global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. Complying with the federal government’s decision, Punjab announced that all shops, markets, and shopping malls would close at 8pm, while hotels, restaurants, and food outlets would shut at 10pm, including on Saturdays and Sundays. However, the government had exempted pharmacies, medical stores, medical supply stores, medical laboratories and hospitals from the order of early closure. Similarly, petrol pumps, CNG stations, as well as tandoors, bakeries and milk/dairy shops were exempt from the closure order. Even though restaurants and food outlets were required to shut by 10pm, there were no restrictions on takeaway and home delivery services. While the Punjab government ordered that all marriage halls and wedding functions, including those organised at residences and farmhouses, shall be closed by 10pm, the latest notification did not explain the status of their closure timings. The decision had drawn a strong reaction f