RAWALPINDI: The Restaurants, Caterers, Sweets and Bakers Association Pakistan has urged the government to immediately restore dine-in operating hours for restaurants until 1a.m., warning that continued restrictions could jeopardise the livelihoods of millions, force hundreds of businesses to shut down, reduce tax revenues, and inflict further damage on Pakistan’s already struggling food industry.

In a joint statement association president, Mohammad Farooq Chaudhry, Association Chairman Mumtaz Ahmed and Patron-in-Chief Chaudhry Mohammad Naeem said the restrictions are affecting not only restaurant owners but also waiters, chefs, kitchen staff, delivery workers, cleaners, and thousands of students who rely on part-time restaurant jobs to support their education and household expenses.

He noted that takeaway services alone cannot sustain the industry, as traditional Pakistani cuisine depends largely on dine-in customers. With the current summer heat, restaurants conduct most of their business during late evening hours, making the restrictions particularly damaging.

Mumtaz Ahmed said shorter business hours are significantly reducing revenues, threatening the education of working students and the financial stability of their families.

Chaudhry Mohammad Naeem added that the food industry has yet to fully recover from the financial losses and debts incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He warned that if the restrictions continue, more businesses may close, unemployment could rise, investment may decline, and government tax collections would be adversely affected.

The association called on the government to consider ground realities, seasonal conditions, and the livelihoods of millions of families by restoring dine-in hours until 1a.m.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2026