RAWALPINDI: The traders’ associations of Rawalpindi city and cantonment on Friday welcomed the notification of Punjab government to withdraw bazaar and hotel closure timings by 8pm till June 1.

They said instead of 15 days the government should remove the timing restrictions for good.

In a statement, RCCI President Usman Shaukat appreciated the timely intervention of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in response to the concerns expressed by the business community after reassessing the prevailing situation.

He stated that the decision to allow markets and shops to remain open till late at night will provide much-needed relief to traders, shopkeepers, and consumers during the busy Eid shopping season.

Say instead of 15 days govt should remove restrictions for good

He said the business community had urged the Punjab government to review the lockdown timings in view of the increasing commercial activity ahead of Eid.

He termed the relaxation a positive and business-friendly step that would help revive economic activity while facilitating the public.

The RCCI leadership expressed hope that the government would consider extending the revised timings beyond June 1 to support businesses and sustain market confidence.

The RCCI reaffirmed its commitment to continue constructive engagement with the government for the promotion of business-friendly policies and the protection of traders’ interests.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha told Dawn that it was the major demand of the traders to end 8pm closure timings of bazaars and hotels as in the summer, mostly people visit bazaars after evening.

He said traders were already facing financial crises and the early closure timings had put them in trouble. He said the government should end the timing restrictions completely.

In Saddar, the main commercial hub of cantonment areas, the traders association also welcomed the decision of the government and said that shopkeepers had felt a sigh of relief.

“There is no business in the morning and afternoon as mostly shoppers especially women come to bazaars in the evening for Eid shopping.

“The government decision to lift the restriction on closure timings will help traders sell their products,” said Cantonment Traders Association General Secretary Zafar Qadri.

He said in Saddar, mostly people open their shops in the afternoon as people start arriving in bazaars in the evening.

He said all the provincial laws were being implemented in cantonment bazaars so shops will remain open till late night as per Punjab government’s notification.

The implementation and coordination wing of the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), on Friday notified that “all the shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and food outlets are exempted from the prescribed closure timings till June 1, 2026.”

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2026