Shops to shut down by 8pm in Islamabad, Punjab: CCE

E-Paper | June 08, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday decided to shut down shops, marriage halls and restaurants in Islamabad at 8pm, 10pm and 11pm respectively. The same pattern would be replicated in Punjab to set an example for other provinces, saving hundreds of megawatts of electricity.

Take a look: PM directs ministry to consider early closure of shops to save power

This was decided in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCE) which continued for nearly three hours under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to review progress on power projects.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also directed Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Power Younus Dagha to personally supervise all the projects being planned under the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor on a daily basis in order to determine appropriate deliverables for the agreed energy projects in view of the upcoming visit of China's political leadership.

Nawaz also directed officials of the Ministry of Water and Power to ensure that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) based projects are completed within the prescribed timelines.

The participants of the meeting informed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that one LNG terminal has been set up and the second one would be ready by next month while both plants have investment from Pakistani companies worth US$1 billion.

PM Nawaz was also updated on the planned 1100-km North-South Gas pipeline which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2017.

Nawaz reiterated that timelines decided in the last meeting of the CCE for completion of the open and combined cycle plants of projects for generation of 3600 MW must be strictly followed.

The premier directed federal ministers who were present in the CCE to hold meetings with provincial chief ministers and give them a detailed briefing regarding the need and urgency of conservation measures — including early closure of shops, marriage halls and restaurants.

It was decided that production of efficient electrical appliances consuming less electricity would be encouraged — including fans, florescent lamps, air conditioners, motors, refrigerators, washing machines and Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) units.

The meeting also gave approval of energy audit and energy conservation awareness in industries to save their bills as well as consumption of electricity.

PM Nawaz directed that issue of payment between Ministry of Water and Power and Pakistan State Oil and a comprehensive strategy be devised by the Ministries of Water and Power and Petroleum and Natural Resources in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Adviser to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, Minister of State for Petroleum Jam Kamal Khan, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to PM Musaddik Malik, Punjab MPA Rana Sanaullah, Secretary to PM Javed Aslam, Secretary Water and Power Younus Dagha, Secretary Finance Waqar Masood, Secretary Petroleum Arshad Mirza, Secretary Information, Muhammad Azam and other senior government officials.

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confused engineer

Apr 08, 2015 04:16pm

This is an excellent initiative and should have been implemented before. I will support this as a citizen of Karachi if it gets implemented here.

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usman mirza

Apr 08, 2015 04:20pm

What else they could think of.....why not to close steel, sugar and other mills at 4 p.m., this will save energy too...

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Chishti

Apr 08, 2015 04:28pm

wise decision.

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moiz

Apr 08, 2015 04:31pm

please change the office timings too, so that every one can avail the day light for home affairs

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Umm

Apr 08, 2015 04:33pm

I strongly support this

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Gerry dcunha

Apr 08, 2015 04:33pm

Will this restrictions apply to govt officials as well? Or it's restricted to the general public only

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jogi

Apr 08, 2015 04:34pm

hahahaha.....what an energy conservation policy

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Muzzammil Hussain

Apr 08, 2015 04:34pm

let see PM sb

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K R Khan

Apr 08, 2015 04:34pm

no way

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Muhammad AlKhan

Apr 08, 2015 04:35pm

Really imran khan is role model and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is model for other province as this announcement first did by imran khan...proud of IK

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amitesh

Apr 08, 2015 04:38pm

Lol we most of time leave for shopping after 8 ,and return after 10. These days we are getting 24 hours power supply in my small city.

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Uzair

Apr 08, 2015 04:41pm

Instead of increasing the electricity output and streamlining the theft, the shops are to be shut down to save some 100s of Magawatts... Great Governance.

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Rizwan

Apr 08, 2015 04:41pm

insanity

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responsible

Apr 08, 2015 04:43pm

Old effort less formula to control load shedding in nights. Nothing new. Spending time was on meeting was completely wastage.

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Apr 08, 2015 04:44pm

Again, local business have to pay the price. It's like stopping motorists from driving instead of building roads.

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mian

Apr 08, 2015 04:46pm

A sensible decision after long wait. Our people should also comply with such decisions for collective benefit.

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Adnan Anwar

Apr 08, 2015 04:51pm

Is this a joke ??? Office buildings should be required to turn off unnecessary lights. Asking retail to close shop early is detriment to the economy.

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Ameer Hamza

Apr 08, 2015 04:52pm

Well Done Premier, Once people obey this order in Islamabad, we shall be able to save a lot of megawatts.

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Merchant

Apr 08, 2015 04:52pm

There should be statutory trading hours embedded in the law of land rather than half cooked amendments.

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siddiqui

Apr 08, 2015 04:52pm

yes take away whatever freedoms people have left

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last comment

Apr 08, 2015 04:53pm

Office timings to be from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm like Arab countries it will save a lot of electricity and people will reach home in day light. Ultimately will sleep early and stay healthy.

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Bashir

Apr 08, 2015 04:53pm

Who will implement this order. Most of the shop keepers belong to N league .

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peace

Apr 08, 2015 04:56pm

Very good decision. This has 2 advantages. 1. Power saving This model is followed in most European countries too. All shops are closed at 8pm. 2. The shop keepers and business owners can have dinner with their children and get more time for family.

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sab

Apr 08, 2015 04:57pm

Folks, get ready for long power outages...

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adnan

Apr 08, 2015 04:58pm

happens everytime - about half of employable work force ( including women) do not work/don't have work people get up at 10/11 am and shops open at 11 or so retailers will just burn oil and run generators and less conscientious nation will go and buy at their suitable time. happens every year. not to mention huge pollution and loss of breathing air due to fossil fuel burning generators

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Ali Shah

Apr 08, 2015 04:59pm

@amitesh , despite 24 hours electricity your hours are not very healthy. Having seen a fair bit of the west (which is quite advanced in most spheres) I found it quite surprising that people from the Indian subcontinent do activities quite late in the day which the westerners find quite surprising (and not something that is look up to).

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khanm

Apr 08, 2015 05:01pm

Are all the lights going to be off in Presidential palace, prime ministers house, governor house after 10 pm... practice it first before you preach as the enforcers...folks ...A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would not cut down his own power consumption and make a speech on conservation....

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Nadeem

Apr 08, 2015 05:01pm

Commendable

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Anwaar

Apr 08, 2015 05:01pm

@ CONFUSED ENGINEER ... You're kidding right? ... this is Karachi .. its a metropolis ! .... instead of closing it down early it should remain open late ...

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saf

Apr 08, 2015 05:02pm

Sorry guys I live in the UK and I really don't understand how on earth this fixes anything and why so many of you seem to be supportive of this. If we started forcing businesses to close at a certain time over here it would cause billions worth of damage to the economy so how on earth can it be helpful to Pakistan. I just don't get it Power shortages cause damage to the economy so how it is helpful to simply tell business to shut early its doing the same thing the power cut does which is stop the business from being able to function.

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Iftikhar Ahmad

Apr 08, 2015 05:04pm

Nice but also check what is point for lighting 50 or 100 energy saving bulbs in shops/restaurants. I witnessed lighting of about 100 energy saving bulbs at Petrol pump, Does a petrol pump require so many bulbs. Where is energy saving?. It is also witnessed that government offices are kept open beyond office hours to avail free air conditioning. This must be checked.

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Dekh Magar Pyaar Se

Apr 08, 2015 05:06pm

Good decision. Hope they will be able to implement it as well

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ailly

Apr 08, 2015 05:09pm

is there any minster around for this job or PM will do all goody goody by himself ? this announcement should have come from the concerned Ministry to show us all that ministries are functioning independently and some system is in place to row the boat. but this is not in the books of our ruling class.... they like to portray their own persona rather than system for which they are elected primarily.... unless we stop portraying ourselves as geniuses we are heading anywhere.... will someone try to think further deep on this aspect ?.... we call it a democracy and our PM works in the manner of a PRESIDENTIAL set up and sometimes even like a dictatorial regime. these old, stagnated leaders cannot cope with the ongoing developments around the world. we need to get rid of these totalitarian leaders.

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Muhammad Yasir

Apr 08, 2015 05:11pm

This might save some mega watts ! the problem is the implementation of the plan and changing of the habits of the dwellers, which i seriously doubt to follow by the merchants and business men community unless the office timings are changed and given some favour to markets for a long weekend opening hours.

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Sajid

Apr 08, 2015 05:11pm

They cannot come up with solutions for the energy problems of the country instead they coming up with gimicks like that. Why should a consumer be not able to use a product for he ready to pay for.Aren't they same people who promised us to finish loudshedding in 6 months to 2 years. Maximum time has elapsed .They should apologise to nation for lies they have told instead curbing individual freedom and peaple right to celebrate their marriages for how long they choose to do so.

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Apr 08, 2015 05:15pm

Can there be an obligatory retail business start-time of 9am as well, across the board. This will eventually have a positive impact on removing the laziness of business/ shop owners as well as consumers. This is practiced across the western countries and indeed is very effective, particularly in improving retails sales, leading to a healthy economic activity. This also effectively meets the objective of daylight saving. Hope someone from the concerned pay heed to this too....

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rakrl

Apr 08, 2015 05:17pm

great

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EX-PTI Voter

Apr 08, 2015 05:18pm

@Muhammad AlKhan THIS had been already implemented in previous tenure of PML N in punjab please refer to past before throwing credit of everything to IK .

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APakistani

Apr 08, 2015 05:19pm

Please also apply Daylight saving system to utilize early morning sunlight.

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Aijaz Hussain

Apr 08, 2015 05:20pm

While we're at it, why not shut down all government buildings at 10 am, since nothing happens there anyway.....and it'll save a lot of electricity. Also how about switching off all street lights, let the headlights illuminate the roads. Realistically there are so many other things these leaders can implement. Banning incandescent bulbs, making the power grid more efficient, coming down hard on electricity theft.

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indian

Apr 08, 2015 05:22pm

R u kidding??? 8 pm!!! It's a time to go out for shopping specially in summer's.

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Anjum Saeed

Apr 08, 2015 05:26pm

Mr Prime Minister and Team – Why Punjab and Islamabad ? You are the PM for Pakistan. You spent 3 hours in CEC for just Punjab and the Federal Capital. Pls ask your team to start thinking out of the box. The entire developed world works on the Dya Light Saving concept and it workd perfectly well in saving energy for them utilising the natural sunlight when its more in summers. Do put a time to close but also push shops / markets and every body to start early instaed of opening malls at mid day. Educate general masses to start early and end early like all others do. That’s the only way out to conserve energy and especially in Pakistan we have long summers and we can certainly do better by properly impelmenting the concept. Good Luck.

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Rehan

Apr 08, 2015 05:31pm

Good move

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confused engineer

Apr 08, 2015 05:31pm

@Adnan Anwar It isn't. Please Google how China has been helping its economy by doing the same.

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Jammy

Apr 08, 2015 05:34pm

Ha..ha...ha..what a solution for energy starving country like pakistan....instead they should try to generate more power...they are reducing the usage...ha ha what a negative thinking... think about the shop owners of shopping malls...

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Amina

Apr 08, 2015 05:36pm

How about setting all Private and Public office timings to 8am to 2pm.

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Khalid

Apr 08, 2015 05:37pm

WOW. This is such an important and unique decision to describe the energy policy of the current government. What an intelligent decision from an intelligent Prime Minister and his intelligent team of 100s of ministers. Well done. The world would recognise this as one of the most important decisions any Prime MInister has ever taken. By the way, why don't we ask shops/offices/businesses/restaurants/schools to start at 5am and close at 5pm? That will save even more electricity!!. No?.

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Rasool Hoodbhoy

Apr 08, 2015 05:37pm

The government should implement day light savings time I.e moving the clocks ahead by an hour.

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concerned

Apr 08, 2015 05:39pm

Geo PM ... We support him in this

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Waqar Yaqub

Apr 08, 2015 05:41pm

@last comment Yes absolutely agree with your comments.

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Apr 08, 2015 05:42pm

Awesome, but I get home from work at 7 ... what time does that leave me? Office timings should be changed too.

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Ameer Hamza

Apr 08, 2015 05:43pm

@Anwaar Don't you try to compare Karachi with Las Vegas. They have numerous power plants to feed their extravagant consumers. In Pakistan, having known that our resources are unable to defeat the constant increasing loading factor, this step is worth-admiring.

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Khan-Haqiqi

Apr 08, 2015 05:46pm

This is a good move Pakistan is a strange country where shopkeepers waste half the day by sleeping at home and shops opens at 12 in afternoon

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saf

Apr 08, 2015 05:46pm

@Adnan Anwar This is exactly what I was thinking. Anywhere else in the world this would be laughed at because of the damage it would cause to the economy

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Mrs. Khan

Apr 08, 2015 05:47pm

this is really good. That's how it happens in UAE and China. at least I can speak about these countries as I have seen it myself. shops are closed at 10pm sharp. any shop that is opened after 10pm is caught by police and fined. I was once in a gold shop in Abu Dhabi at it was 10pm while we were inside the shop. the shopkeeper requested us to come tomorrow as he cannot keep the shutter open. In Beijing, they would close all unnecessary lights over the building even the Railway Station would turn stark black at 10pm or so. the only thing which PM should clear here or make sure of is there should be some utility stores, govt. Hosps etc which should serve 24/7.

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asim

Apr 08, 2015 05:49pm

What about people who want to go out for entertainment or shop keepers who would loose revenue? Come on Mr. PM, fix the real issue here, catch alll the electricity thieves and set up more power generators!

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Khaled

Apr 08, 2015 05:49pm

A very good step , I had suggested the same in my letter to Dawn on April 5. "Apropos the news item April 5 It’s good to hear that the Capital's administration is going to implement the Supreme Court‘s decision of allowing only one dish to be served at wedding parties. Regarding the claim of an event manager at one of the wedding halls, ‘that the restriction would cause huge losses to his business’, why doesn't he say that he will be making less profit, even after charging half a million rupees as rent for a wedding hall for three to four hours, which is quite exorbitant on its own, and very much out of reach of the middle and upper middle class. In fact the Capital Administration should also restrict the time of the function till 10 PM as in other cities of Punjab. This will not only save people from the inconvenience caused due to late culmination of the function past midnight, but will also go a long way in overcoming the energy crisis which we are faced with today."

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Mrs. Khan

Apr 08, 2015 05:50pm

@Anwaar why? Give one good reason please why shops and restaurants should remain open till late night? Early to bed, Early to Rise, will make you healthy wealthy and wise. and one day citizen of a progressive country too.

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kulwant singh

Apr 08, 2015 05:54pm

8PM in summer is very early it may be 10 PM the shops may remain closed from 13.00 to 16.00 as during this time majority like to remain indoor due to heat.

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Shaikh

Apr 08, 2015 05:55pm

@Ameer Hamza bro you dont produce LOT of MW...how r u going to save it???

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Muhammad Kashif

Apr 08, 2015 05:57pm

They want to shut the shops by 8pm to save energy. Are they guaranteeing the power supply for the rest of the time ?? or its just close the shops early and buy a decent generator while they are open?

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confused engineer

Apr 08, 2015 05:57pm

@Anwaar, absolutely not Sir. Karachi is indeed a huge metropolis and its should be the most efficient as well. Power savings in Karachi will play a huge part in lighting up bulbs in far off places and even within the metropolis as a result of less load shedding. On the other hand, this will also save us from the evening to night rush hour as less people would be heading towards malls and restaurants. Today Karachi wakes up at 12 PM in the afternoon. All we have to do is open up early and make most of the sunlight. And the best part is we'll remain a metropolis, only more efficient and more managed.

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Talha

Apr 08, 2015 05:58pm

conspiracy against islamabad ..i strongly condemned it as a lively islamabadi boy....

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proud-winner

Apr 08, 2015 06:03pm

How about saving gas from the hundreds of security protocol that every politician gets. That will save money as well as petrol.

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pakistani

Apr 08, 2015 06:07pm

Good move, I hope that Gop stricktly implement this on the ground as well, Not just remain a law for the sake of saying.

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ARSHAD JAMIL

Apr 08, 2015 06:08pm

"The federal government .. decided to shut down shops.. @ 8pm". Congratulations for recognizing the need for energy conservation, a step, that should have been taken decades ago. What is needed now, is a huge big campaign for implementation. It needs the support of the public. It needs good planning, good legislation and a strong will for success. Do it now. Move beyond the meeting decision. Otherwise, it will be another joke.

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public

Apr 08, 2015 06:13pm

Why not shut down all lights of Presidency, PM House, All Minister's residences, all MNA, MPA residences, All Raiwind Palaces and Modal Town Palaces lights and street lights and load shedding will end.None of these actual sacrificial items actually make any sacrifice. Their favorite solution: pass it down to miserable people who were foolish enough to vote for them. They sure do deserve this. They should be wiser now.

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Kumar

Apr 08, 2015 06:20pm

Need of the hour is to encourage installation of LED lights. Not only will it save electricity but it could bring power-bill down also. If strict implementation of LED lights is followed, it's expected that it will bring down power usage by more than 60% and maybe also enable 24 hour electric supply in deficient places.

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shiv

Apr 08, 2015 06:20pm

Pay your taxes on time and use your resources wisely.

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Riaz

Apr 08, 2015 06:22pm

Great decision.

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Arshad Ahmed Patel, West Chester,Ohio, USA.

Apr 08, 2015 06:26pm

Another foolish move by Nawaz government, blocking the flow of money and making the public suffer as his INEFFICIENT government is not able to provide basic necessities to the common person. All the restrictions will only end up in spreading more corruption. The businessmen pay their BILLS & TAXES and curtailing the hours of their business operations mean to reduce the revenue to the government and also blocking the flow of money. Our Honourable Finance minister should have known that the more THE MONEY changes the hands the better it is for the economy of the country and he should have come up with a better idea rather to make public suffer for his BOSS lavish foreign tours. Please provide the BASIC NECESSITIES to the common man rather than SNATCH AWAY whatever is left with the common man. GOD BLESS PAKISTAN AND ITS PEOPLE.

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aba@ada.cle

Apr 08, 2015 06:29pm

PML-N was the one who criticised the same decision taken by PPP govt..... Correct me if I am wrong....

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SGKhan_Karachi

Apr 08, 2015 06:30pm

I wonder if the PM considered the loss to our economy, and the massive financial impact on the average shopkeeper who's entire family depends on the shop, as a result of this decision? Clearly not.

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Apr 08, 2015 06:33pm

@confused engineer This initiative was implemented twice in the past and failed miserably. When a country that has an outage of almost 14 hours a day how do you expect closing of business at whatever time given, they will go into a loss.. Is this a law or what. If it is, then what punishment would be given to those who would not abide by this. No business would close their businesses by the given time. Paisa boltha hai bhai. Air conditioners, motors, refrigerators, washing machines are these efficient electrical appliances. Mr PM lets start with you take away all the extra Ac's, washing machines, motors that drain every drop of water for the rich and leave nothing for the poor. You forgot one thing, what time will the businesses open.

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Khan

Apr 08, 2015 06:36pm

@Anwaar In all major cities of the world, retail shops (including supermarkets) are required by law to shutdown between 8pm-9pm on weekdays and by 6pm on weekends. Restaurants/bars/cafe's cannot remain open after 11pm, unless they have special permission to open past mindnight (generally very expensive license). I have personally witnessed this in London, Manchester, Stockholm, Berlin and Milan. Although I am not a N-league fan but it is a very good initiative and if implemented will do wonders. They should also aim to include daylight saving during summers so that maximum electricity can be saved.

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Apr 08, 2015 06:40pm

@Anwaar Metro....whatever :))) really !! Most cities of EU close at 8...other than bars and pubs (dont think last two are in Karachi)

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sulmanparsi

Apr 08, 2015 06:48pm

I have lived in Islamabad for many years. No shop restraurant or marriage hall switch off light as per executive orders. Magistrate comes to market for 5 minutes but shops switch on their outlets. The market union has most power than govt official. the best solution for saving of power is to switch off the market hotel restaurants and marriage hall main transformers switch off by WAPDA IESCO authority at respective time for whole night.

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Asif

Apr 08, 2015 06:53pm

Nothing wrong with that. Here is Scotland, all shops normally close at 6-7pm on weekdays. I don't understand why people have to criticize everything?

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Aqil Siddiqi

Apr 08, 2015 06:53pm

Instead of making Dams and other outlets to produce Electricity, these inept Govt comes up with this pethetic solution. And the problem is , many will agree to this. Way to go Pakistan. What is next ? Stop going out to save oil and gas too ......

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M. Saeed Awan

Apr 08, 2015 06:59pm

Good decision and Govt. is moving to right direction to overcome power shortage in hot summer.

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Jazzy

Apr 08, 2015 07:01pm

Surely this is not progress.

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Anon

Apr 08, 2015 07:08pm

@indian Only ghosts will for shopping after 8 pm.It should be implemented in India as well. You need to take a lesson from Europe and America where shopping malls are closed at 9 pm sharp.

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imranrahbar

Apr 08, 2015 07:13pm

please stick to it and implement it in true letter and spirit PLEASE!!

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azmat

Apr 08, 2015 07:16pm

I am strong critic of the current govt but this step needs to be appreciated. The effectiveness will be measured by the goat's resolve and degree of seriousness. Also, if it is implemented in letter and spirit, even the shop owners will benefit provided it is implemented across the board. If my competitor also closes his shop at 8pm,I don't lose any business. As simple as that. So it will not effect the overall sales. It would in affect mean the same amount of business in less hours and less energy. More family time . It would also benefit the poor works force that is made to work long hours . Some exceptions would have to be made for medical stores, cinemas and places of in door activities and leisure .This is the system all over the world. In UK most shops and businesses at 6 and some by 7. Only the off licenses, pubs ,clubs, gyms, sports facilities remain open. restaurants till 11 and a few fast foods till 3am but they have to pay extra in license fees.

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Tanweer

Apr 08, 2015 07:18pm

Early to Bed, Early to Rise, Makes a Man Healthy, Wealthy and Wise.

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azmat

Apr 08, 2015 07:19pm

They must not allow any one to open the shop after an agreed time - end of story. Some shop owners would argue that they will keep the shop open by using their own generators but this will be unfair to the small businesses / shops.

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lafanga

Apr 08, 2015 07:19pm

How much electricity is being consumed by the palace called the PM house and the Punjab CM house and all the governors houses? How much fuel is spent on useless foreign trips? Don't question that BUT let's stop people from eating out late to save electricity. Brilliant.

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Jaffar Sultan

Apr 08, 2015 07:22pm

Old wine in new bottle.Mr PM the poor citizens are going to follow the rules but who is going to harness your ministers and the bigwigs.

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Nabeel Hussain

Apr 08, 2015 07:23pm

Instead of having a good alternate .We are still living in the primitive ages. What a decision PM.

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Kashif

Apr 08, 2015 07:29pm

Most shop keepers dont even payctheir electric bills and over illuminate their shops as they are not paying

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Tahir

Apr 08, 2015 07:33pm

Such measures cannot help in reducing the core problem of ever increasing line losses and theft.

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Well Wisher

Apr 08, 2015 07:45pm

Is it another propaganda stunt? What has the Govt been doing since it came into power almost two years ago. What is the progress on Gadani, Sahiwal and other coal based power projects, for which inauguration was done with so much fanfare by no less a person than our PM. What has happened to Nandipur Power Project, again inaugurated by the PM with so much fanfare, and so much advertisements on TV channels. Even tax payers' money spent on these advertisements has gone to waste. Can our worthy Minister for Water & Power / Information Minister throw some light on achievements of this Govt in reducing load-shedding instead of daily issuing meaningless statements against their political opponents.

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Saad(DXB)

Apr 08, 2015 07:45pm

Oh God.. If you shut down 500 shops in Islamabad, you are forcing at least 50,000 visitors to stay home.. If a family has 5 people on the average, you are forcing 10,000 households to stay home and keep multiple bulbs, tube lights etc. switched on. If each of these 10,000 households keeps 5 bulbs/ tube lights on, that's 50,000... On the other hand, even if each shop has 20 bulbs/ tube lights, this comes to 10,000.

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noon

Apr 08, 2015 07:50pm

Where in the world are shopping malls open till 10 pm unless it is holiday season..we as a nation do not value time case in point our weddings are late along with other government offices we all are late...the day we start working early in the morning and by that I mean office starts at 8 and closes at 5 things will change..For Good!!!

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Well Wisher

Apr 08, 2015 07:57pm

@Ameer Hamza In principle these are good measures to be implemented. Govt should tell this poor nation how much power can be saved with these actions? However, same story is being publicised since last so many years. Could any Govt - PPP or PMLN - implement these measures being announced each year and going in total failure. What could we achieve in term of reducing (forget about eliminating) load shedding during last seven years of PPP and PMLN Govt? Has this important issue ever been thoroughly debated by our parliamentarians?

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Well Wisher

Apr 08, 2015 07:59pm

@sab Well said. Same drama being re-enacted each year before advent of summer.

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Farhan

Apr 08, 2015 08:00pm

Kindly change the office timing too. 8 to 4.

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Truth

Apr 08, 2015 08:07pm

As we understand from media reports, Govt cannot provide required money for timely completion of Neelam-Jhelum Hydopower Project. But there is lot of money available for metro bus and motorway projects - basically politically motivated projects. We would humbly request the Minister for Water & Power to give us completion plan with timeline for the so many power projects announced from time to time including, among others, Bhasha and Dasu Hydropower projects.

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Sarmad

Apr 08, 2015 08:14pm

I vehemently support this. I appeal to Business communities in Sindh province to open their business by 7.30 a.m in the morning and utilize Sun Light and close their activities by 8.pm to help and streamline a smooth traffic system.

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Jaffer

Apr 08, 2015 08:27pm

People should also be asked to switch their TV' s and lights and go to bed by 10PM and should not wake up before sunrise to save electricity.

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Apr 08, 2015 08:43pm

Very good move. This will keep our women indoor after sunset and preserve our Islamic values.

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Junaid

Apr 08, 2015 08:43pm

although this is not a solution and will adversely effect the economy and the business community but what choice we have. Every one has to do their part and sacrifice. People have to change their habit. My only concerns is that even after all this, if the govt. fails to do their part by not investing in the infrastructure, grid stations, or any efforts to overcome the electricity short falls, then that would be very disappointing. Seems like Every time when people of Pakistan sacrifice, their lives get more miserable than before.

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Sajid

Apr 08, 2015 08:55pm

Extremely good decision by government.they deserve appreciation bravo.

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Zahid khan

Apr 08, 2015 09:04pm

In other words govt has failed to fulfil its loadshedding promises and is back to adopting its predecessor's policies.

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faisal

Apr 08, 2015 09:06pm

They took 3 hours to decide this. That says a lot about the so called Democratic govt of ours....

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ABHAI SHARMA

Apr 08, 2015 09:09pm

@last comment - Not impressed with shops time restriction but I guess it is need of the hour in this energy crisis. However, I do agree with you that offices should operate from 7:00 Am to 03:00 pm . Would really be a healthy practice. Alas, only if wishes were horses.

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abdul wahab

Apr 08, 2015 09:40pm

Dear prime minister Insane decision most of us work late and get free from office after 9, if i have to buy any medicine or any other stuff, at what time i will buy

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bina

Apr 08, 2015 09:51pm

Now the businesses need to open by 9 am and not after 12 pm. As it is nothing gets done on time.

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Parveez

Apr 08, 2015 09:54pm

Great idea but gurantee not to work The people of Pakistan are not going to do this It will never going to work its just a PR Here in the west even in hotels i make sure i turn all lights of when leaving In Pakistan i see lights ac are never turned off unless power cuts I know people with 1 ac getting a bill for R70000 and another with 11ac R20000 fixed per month If the sustem is so corrupt how can things improve This is common in sindh This is not just one example

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sohail

Apr 08, 2015 10:02pm

wise decision. stich in time saves nine. further government offices should be closed by 4 pm strictly to save electricity. biometric system should be installed in all government offices to check strict compliance to save electricity.

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Apr 08, 2015 10:13pm

If we take our own torches can we shop after 8pm?

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rana1

Apr 08, 2015 10:16pm

Well done.

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rana1

Apr 08, 2015 10:18pm

This is how many many countries run.If only our ignorant people would have cared to learn and see the wisdom behind this intiative or rule which is adapted even in the first world countries.

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Mehboob Boghani

Apr 08, 2015 10:19pm

Plz implement this in other provinces, especially in sindh, alhamdulillah v good decision

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jatin

Apr 08, 2015 10:22pm

If the politicians stop using AC in their lifes then it will save thousands of megawatts of power..

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A.J

Apr 08, 2015 10:24pm

Looks like a family get together :).

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mariam siddiqui

Apr 08, 2015 10:26pm

maybe women and shopowners in karachi should wakeup by 9am so the daytime hours are utilised - this was tried once before.. very unsuccessfully.

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rana1

Apr 08, 2015 10:28pm

@ZX ....you have the whole day so make use of it.This attitude is the bane of your failure as a society.Shame on you who cannot comprehend and support a good initiative by the government.

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sagar

Apr 08, 2015 10:28pm

"We will eat grass but develop nukes" This is happening now!

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faisal

Apr 08, 2015 10:32pm

Most of the Europe ..i saw australia does this ...why not us...

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Uzair

Apr 08, 2015 10:35pm

Do the people supporting this law even work? How can you do household things after work when don't even have couple of hours to do it. I already hate that a lot of places observe half day on Friday ot saturdays. If we are going to close buisness early and observe holidays for every other nonsense 'day', what would we produce. Now timing for marriage halls is fine. But retail store, atleast for essential goods should not have such law. They should be encouraged to close early where possible but making a law for it will make it problem where they are necessary. And restaurants, sure some time-pass kind of restaurants opened late would be waste but some are essential. Not everyone lives in a house with families, and a lot of people have duties at night and they do need food. For example doctors and staff, travellers etc

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rana1

Apr 08, 2015 10:40pm

@siddiqui .......the state that can give you freedom can also take it away.Why not implement this change in pur lives and stop this night shopping strolls and remain home.Even in the West,malls close by 6pm and a few grocery stores till 10p.m,restaurants by 10pm.You people are ready to adopt Western lifestyles but are not ready to make the changes that the West has instilled from discipline to unity and this is what makes them respected all over the world..This intiative also discourages crooks, as lesser the crowd,lesser the damage and crime.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Apr 08, 2015 10:50pm

How about the "Sharief Estate" in Raiwind and adjourning shops, restaurants, marriage-halls and other commercial areas there? Shall they be closed as well or treated differently as from day one?

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Usman Saeed

Apr 08, 2015 10:55pm

@Farhan Now with such a setting, we actually need 4 work hours. They take everything from us but give so little in return. I have lived in a Pakistan with no such restrictions. There were no smartphones in those days, but they weren't needed either. They only remind you of the utter dystopia we are living in!

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Tariq, Lahore

Apr 08, 2015 11:13pm

Most stores support their own power generation with generators. How will the authorities implement the new ad-hock proclamation??

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weq

Apr 08, 2015 11:34pm

Please don't make this dead city a grave yard, let it live as people want, this is tyranny and opression, if the Law Enforcement is unable to keep the city safe then keeping citizens from stepping out of homes as and when they like ain't a solution.

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weq

Apr 08, 2015 11:36pm

@confused engineer Karachi has target killers and MQM, Islamabad is a safe place full of life, shutting down Karachi makes a lot of sense but not Islamabad where people start gaining energy at the hours when Govt. proposed closure.

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Factual

Apr 08, 2015 11:38pm

Right decision. This happens in entire world. If shops close at 9pm sharp, people will adjust their shopping habbits to new timings. There is one problem though. Pakistan happens to be in a very hot climate regions during summers. Sizzling heat of summers doesn't make afternoon shopping a pleasant experience (one of the reason markets in Gulf countries remain open late night)

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Nameer Aurangzeb

Apr 08, 2015 11:49pm

@Asif. This would be fine with us had the shops opened at 9-10 in the morning as well. No shop gets opened before 12 in the afternoon or even late sometimes. Secondly, is this a guarantee that there won't be any power outage during business hours?

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Opinion

Apr 08, 2015 11:49pm

Maybe start from other cities to set examples which consume more electricity like I don't know KARACHI, Islamabad doesn't use that much electricity to begin with ...............

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shopaholic

Apr 09, 2015 12:22am

Speaks scores of their political efforts to end loadshedding in 6 months... It should be implemented in the capital only once its successfully implemented in Lahore!

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Ebrahim

Apr 09, 2015 12:32am

What a great news. This should be enforced in all provinces. Basically, all Shopping Centres, Malls, Business places, etc. should open early say by 10.00am and closed at 8.00pm that way we will save electricity and that will also help in businessmen giving more time to family. This will be a Socio-economic action, hence, should be supported by all.

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Waheed

Apr 09, 2015 12:55am

@confused engineer . China's holds $3.9 Trillion in it's reserves, that's 32 times what United States foreign reserves are. China sells to the World and has been maintaining one sixth of world population in harmony for thousands of years. How can Chines formula be applied to Pakistan?

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Ahmad

Apr 09, 2015 01:30am

@confused engineer Why only the citizens go under austerity measure..what is the PM doing on the supply side of electricity?

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Ottomann

Apr 09, 2015 01:59am

Here's an IDEA... why doesn't the ruling government declare its assets, empty out its swiss bank accounts, return the money back to the people (to whom it belongs to in the first place) and invest it into their civic well being rather then suggesting a bizarre idea like this. This will be a blow to tourism (whatever's left of it), a pain for all office going people (who don't get off at 3 PM like government employees) and friends/families that would like to enjoy their evening hours to socialize (A healthy societal practice). 8 PM closure of shops will lead to added rush hour traffic... which will bring a whole new wave of problems.

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khan

Apr 09, 2015 02:37am

I support this decision. I suggest 2 days off in a week for offices, that will also help saving energy and environment. Please do not reduce the pay.

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KHK

Apr 09, 2015 04:01am

Instead of improving electric supply CCE found easy way out by shutting down businesses although it is going to heart economy.

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Kalandar

Apr 09, 2015 04:22am

I can see the stock market index already going up. Great solutions to attract foreign investment. I wish this idea should be extended to other cities of Pakistan.

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Riaz

Apr 09, 2015 05:47am

@sagar You seem to have no idea about the shops' closure timing in the developed world !!!!!

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Riaz

Apr 09, 2015 05:48am

@Jazzy Do you know when the shops in Europe are closed ?

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Aqil Siddiqi

Apr 09, 2015 06:05am

@Anon Shopping malls may close at 10 but Restaurants, grocery stores theatres etc etc open till past midnight, and some opens 24 hours. I know, I live in Toronto , Canada and also lives in Michigan(USA)too.

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Mohsin

Apr 09, 2015 06:17am

What about gas ? No one should be able to cook after 10pm as well ? First U need to stop electricity theft second u need to create Pakistan as a hub for alternative energy projects and last but not least enforce energy saving measure such as the one being introduced.. Just closing shops and resturants at 10 would no solve the shortage

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Waqar Usmani

Apr 09, 2015 11:17am

Cut the crap please. Its so naive of you Mr. Nawaz. How can you snatch a capital's night life? Tomorrow you may ask the citizen to abandon the city as it lacks resources, right.

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Tufail

Apr 09, 2015 12:48pm

Really appreciate the advisors and experienced team on such a great solution. I am really astonished by the experienced team's solution.

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Umer Durrani

Apr 10, 2015 04:08am

Closing shops down at 8pm to save energy but not seeing the impact it would have on the overall GDP. How it can discourage potential investors who might refrain to invest because their business now would generate less revenue. Decreasing the whole consumption pattern would do nothing but to further discourage, even, foreign direct investment in the country. Smart decision there, Nawaz.

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Alnoor

Apr 10, 2015 04:22am

Is there any study in what level if electricity will be saved from such initiatives? Are there other alternatives. It will deatroy the economy associated with night entertainment.

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rana1

Apr 10, 2015 08:45am

@Aqil Siddiqi ......we live in canada too,and in our area shops are closed by 9p.m,a few eateries may remain open till 11p.m and some e.g a pizza shop if its close to a university then till 2am.In Canada it all depends on provincial laws which may vary from province to province.Still Pakistan is in need to save energy so its a good initiative.

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N M

Apr 10, 2015 12:18pm

The underlying princip;e of making MAXIMUM use of daylight is unassailable.More so, in view of reduction of the use of fossil fuel in the generation of electricity. What is needed is appropriate laws & education of public

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Usman

Apr 10, 2015 10:10pm

What a stupid policy to implement....it would be better if the Prime Minister and his cabinet had the guts to regain the billions in over due payments by both politicians and rogue elements in the society.

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