LAHORE: The Punjab government on Saturday announced closure of markets, bazaars and business centres across the province at 9pm.

The PML-N-led provincial government’s decision comes a day after the Sindh government announced similar austerity measures to conserve electricity and fuel.

The Hamza administration has taken the decision in line with the nine-party coalition government’s measures to deal with power shortage in the country.

“After holding consultations with the trader community, the markets, bazaars and business centres of Punjab will be closed at 9pm. Restaurants and marriage halls will remain open till 11:30pm and 10pm, respectively,” Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz said. The decision will not be applicable to medical stores and fuel stations.

The CM vowed the trader community would be given special favours in their business operational hours on Saturdays. “The early closure decision will not be applicable to medical stores. The timing policy for Eid shopping will be reviewed in consultation with traders and their demands will be given due consideration,” Hamza maintained.

He further hoped the trader community would support the government’s measures to overcome the energy crisis, and appreciated it for always supporting the nation in its difficult times. He also thanked them for extending unconditional support to the government.

The trader community expressed its views over the decision and also submitted proposals.

Ministers Attauallah Tarar, Salman Rafique, Ali Haider Gilani and Chaudhry Bilal Asghar, and the provincial chief secretary were also present in the meeting with traders.

The coalition government has already declared that such measures were required in the wake of the prevalent power outages and loadshedding to reduce the shortfall between demand and supply of electricity.

The federal cabinet had on June 7 decided to take effective measures to reduce loadshedding by conserving energy and prevent and minimise the impacts of anticipated energy shortfall in the country through a national strategy.

In the past the PPP government had curtailed the timings for business centres to address the worst loadshedding in the country.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2022