• Wedding halls, eateries to shut down at 10pm from today amid global energy crisis
• Consultation underway between Centre and Sindh govt

ISLAMABAD / KARACHI: Taking another step towards the enforcement of a smart lockdown in the country in the wake of the current global energy crisis, the government on Monday ordered that all markets and marriage halls would be closed at 8pm and 10pm respectively across the country, except in Sindh.

The decision was taken in a high-level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The decision will come into force from Tuesday (today).

The meeting was held to review austerity measures announced by him in the wake of the global energy crisis due to the US-Israel war on Iran.

It was informed during the meeting that the consultation process between the Centre and the Sindh government was underway regarding new timings for markets and marriage halls.

However, the meeting agreed that shopping centres and markets would be closed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s divisional headquarters at 9pm.

“The decision regarding early closure of shops and markets was taken with the consent of provincial governments,” said an official press release of the PM’s Office, quoting the prime minister as saying.

Eateries and pharmacies

It has also been decided that bakeries, restaurants, tandoors and other eateries could remain open until 10pm.

“Marriage halls, marquees and other commercial centres where marriages take place will be closed by 10pm,” PM Shehbaz said, according to the press release.

“There will be a complete ban on holding marriage functions after 10pm, even at all private places and homes,” the premier added.

The meeting decided that all medical stores and pharmacies would be exempt from the restricted business schedule.

The meeting was informed that the process of disbursement of fuel subsidies to motorcyclists, goods transport and public transport operators was underway through digital wallets, and more than 100,000 transactions had taken place by Monday.

PM Shehbaz expressed his gratitude to the chief ministers of KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab and Balochistan, as well as the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, for supporting the Centre in implementing austerity measures unanimously.

Talking about the implementation of new austerity measures in Sindh as well, the prime minister said: “Consultation with the stakeholders of the Sindh government is in progress, and I hope that after completion of the consultation process, the Sindh chief minister will also agree to the decision.”

The prime minister also announced that inter-city public transport in Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad would be free for citizens, and all its expenses would be borne by the federal government.

The meeting was also attended, among others, by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, and Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Tauqir Shah.

Sindh traders reject move

Officials said that markets and shopping centres in Sindh were still awaiting a decision on their operating hours, as traders had rejected the federal government’s decision to enforce closures by 8pm.

They said that representatives from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, and other businesses, in a meeting with Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah on Monday, expressed serious concerns over the federal government’s decision to restrict business hours in the province, especially in Karachi.

The Sindh CM told Dawn that he had assured the business community that market timings would be determined after consultations with them.

He said that he had discussed market timings in detail with traders’ associations and was awaiting their input. “The suggestions will be reviewed with the federal government before a decision is made,” he added.

Talking to Dawn, Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said representatives of the business community had expressed mixed views on operating hours during the meeting with the chief minister.

He said the provincial government would not take any decision against the interests of the business community, as they had played an effective role in the country’s economy. “No decision will be made without the consensus of the business community,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2026