KARACHI: The Sindh government has ordered all shops, markets and shopping malls in Karachi and other divisional headquarters to close at 9pm throughout the week, including Saturdays and Sundays, under austerity measures in line with the federal government’s policy.
According to an official notification, markets and shops in districts other than divisional headquarters will close earlier at 8pm.
However, several essential services have been exempted from the order. These include tandoors (standalone), milk and dairy shops, bakeries, medical stores and pharmacies, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, and petrol pumps.
Hotels, restaurants and food outlets will be allowed to operate for dinner from 7pm to 11:30pm. There will be no restriction on takeaway and home delivery services.
The government also allowed wedding halls and banquet facilities to operate from 8pm to midnight.
The business community in Karachi has largely welcomed the decision. All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Chairman Atiq Mir said traders were ready to follow the 9pm closing time in the national interest. He said the decision was made after mutual consultations between traders and the government.
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Leaders of trader associations, including Muhammad Sharjeel Gopalani and Mohammad Rizwan Irfan, also supported the move. They said traders would likely open markets between 9am and 10am and close by 9pm. They added that customers would adjust to the new timings over time.
The measures come as part of broader austerity steps taken by the government due to the global fuel crisis linked to the US-Israel war on Iran.
Earlier, on April 6, the federal government decided that markets and shopping malls across the country would close at 8pm, except in Sindh, as part of energy-saving measures.
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Sindh traders had raised concerns over the early closure timings, especially in Karachi. Following this, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah held meetings with business representatives and assured them that a decision would be made after consultation.
Meanwhile, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also enforced similar measures, with markets closing at 8pm, except in divisional headquarters. Punjab has also announced that markets across the province will close at 8pm throughout the week.
