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The Punjab government has exempted all markets, shops, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and food outlets from the previously mandated 8pm closure timings until June 1, according to a notification issued on Friday. The decision comes in response to traders' protests and appeals from shopping mall associations and the general public, as reported by Dawn.

In a separate development, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government withdrew its orders for early market and business closure on Saturday, nearly six weeks after they were issued, according to a public notice from the chief secretary's office. The notice stated that "implementation of the prescribed market, commercial business closure timings is hereby suspended until further orders."

Coverage comparison

Dawn's reports cover both provincial decisions, with its main article focusing on Punjab's partial relief and another on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's withdrawal. The outlet noted that the Punjab government's notification, dated May 15, referenced an April 6 federal directive that required markets across the country (except Sindh) to close by 8pm as part of energy conservation measures amid a global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

All reports indicate that the federal government's energy conservation measures were prompted by rising oil prices following the conflict. The Punjab notification exempts all shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and food outlets from prescribed closure timings until June 1, as reported by Dawn. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa notice similarly suspends its market and business closure timings until further orders, with a request that citizens and establishments continue observing electricity conservation measures.

Key claims

  • Punjab exemption: The Punjab government exempted all markets from previously issued 8pm closure timings until June 1, according to a notification cited by Dawn.
  • KP withdrawal: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government suspended its market and business closure orders, as per a public notice reported by Dawn.
  • Federal backdrop: The federal government announced energy conservation measures in April amid a global fuel crisis linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran, as reported by Dawn.
  • Exemptions for essential services: Pharmacies, medical stores, hospitals, petrol pumps, CNG stations, tandoors, bakeries, and milk/dairy shops were exempt from early closure orders, according to the same reports.
  • Austerity extension: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended the countrywide austerity drive to June 13, according to a Dawn report. Measures include a 50% reduction in fuel allowance for official vehicles, grounding 60% of official vehicles, and a ban on foreign visits by ministers and officials except for essential trips.
  • Traders' response: Traders welcomed the move, with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce describing it as an "important business-friendly" step. Some suggested that stakeholders should be consulted on matters affecting their businesses, as reported by Dawn.
  • KP easing: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi agreed to ease restrictions in the province, with Kundi proposing exemptions on the pattern of Punjab, Dawn reported.

Perspectives

Traders and business associations have expressed relief at the relaxation, with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce welcoming the decision and calling for continued stakeholder consultation. The provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have framed the moves as balancing public convenience and economic activity with national energy conservation goals. The federal government's austerity drive, which remains in place, reflects ongoing concerns about the global fuel crisis and the need for resource conservation.