LAHORE: The Parvez Elahi government on Wednesday withdrew former chief minister Hamza Shehbaz decision of closing business centres, markets, super stores and shops at 9pm made to conserve electricity and fuel.

The Punjab government has notified the announcement by Chief Minister Parvez Elahi to lift the ban on the timing condition on business centres, markets, super stores and shops.

The Punjab labour and human resource department issued the notification while withdrawing notifications issued on June 18, 20 and 24, and July 1 and 28 that had fixed the closing hours of shops and establishments with immediate effect and till further orders.

Business centres can now also be opened on Sundays.

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

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

Speaking to traders, Mr Elahi announced that the government would also resolve parking issues to provide relief to them.

The chief minister stated in a tweet: “The PML-N patronized parking mafia and I know well the patrons and how much the person earned”.

Mr Elahi asserted that he would eliminate the parking mafia and spend 30 per cent of parking fees on providing facilities to traders.

He said the PML-N made huge propaganda that with the arrival of the Shehbaz government things would change. He said nothing changed and instead the Shehbaz government brought a massive price hike and put a heavy burden on traders.

Mr Elahi also announced setting up Rescue 1122 centres in markets. A committee under the headship of minister Mian Aslam Iqbal and trader leader Nasir Salman was constituted to resolve the problems of the traders.

The chief minister said the Punjab government would adhere to the vision of “Prosperous Trader and Punjab”.

PTI secretary-general Asad Umer lauded CM Parvez Elahi that during his previous tenure as chief minister, he had done a lot of commendable work than others in Punjab and was praised in Pakistan due to his appreciable performance.

He said traders had to face difficulties due to the corona disease and other problems in the past few years and it was the government’s responsibility to resolve the problems of the traders’ community.

Focal person of PTI chairman for traders Nasir Salman said the government wanted to introduce an idea of “downtown”’ and kiosk in the markets like in the developed countries, adding that the markets of all cities should be brought equal to the world subsequently so that the buyer could be persuaded for shopping. He stated that PTI was endeavouring to eradicate poverty by promoting trade. He vowed to resolve the problems of the traders on a priority basis.

Former federal minister Shafqat Mahmood, provincial ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, Mohsin Leghari and Hanif Patafi, Inspector General of Police Faisal Shahkar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Chairman P&D, ACS (Home) administrative secretaries of departments concerned and senior officials were present.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2022