ISLAMABAD: The capital’s administration has re-imposed restrictions on market timings, once again mandating their closure by 8pm throughout the week.

According to a late-night notification, issued by the Islamabad Capital Territory’s district magistrate, all shops, markets and shopping malls will close at 8pm, while restaurants, tandoors, grocery stores, bakeries, meat, fruit and vegetable vendors are to close shop at 10pm.

The notification said that marriage halls, marquees and all other commercial places where festive events are held shall be closed at 10pm.

This restriction also applies to events held on private premises. The new timings will come into effect from today (Monday) and remain in force until further orders, the notification said.

In Rawalpindi, closure timings of all bazaars and markets in the garrison city will be revised from today (Tuesday) as Punjab government’s partial relief ended on June 1 (Monday).

On April 6, the federal government had announced that all markets across the country, barring Sindh, would close by 8pm throughout the week as part of energy conservation measures amid a global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Complying with the federal government’s decision, Punjab had announced that all shops, markets, and shopping malls would close at 8pm, while hotels, restaurants, and food outlets at 10pm, including Saturdays and Sundays.

The pharmacies, medical stores, medical supply stores, medical laboratories and hospitals were exempted from the order of early closure. However, the provincial government had lifted restriction for Eidul Azha as the traders demanded end to restriction so the people could do shopping for Eid.

“We got message from the district administration to follow new timings of bazaars and market closure from June 2 when the restriction will be implemented,” said Rawalpindi Traders Association President Sharjeel Mir while talking to Dawn.

He said that traders were demanding end to the restrictions as the people usually visited bazaars and markets in the evening in summer and the provincial government should reconsider the timings.

Rawalpindi Karyana Association President Saleem Pervaiz Butt said that the grocery stores should be allowed to work till late in night as it will affect the business.

“Many medical stores also run grocery stores in their outlets and they are allowed to do business but grocery stores in mohallahs and residential localities are not allowed,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2026