Early market closures announced nationwide except Sindh from April 7

ISLAMABAD: In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on petroleum products, the government has decided to enforce early closing hours for markets, shopping malls, and commercial centers across the country, excluding Sindh.

According to an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, shops dealing in daily-use items, departmental stores, and malls will close by 8:00 PM.

Bakeries, restaurants, tandoors, and food outlets will remain open until 10:00 PM, while marriage halls and marquees will also be required to shut after 10:00 PM.

The directive further includes a ban on wedding and other events at private residences after 10:00 PM. However, medical stores and pharmacies will remain exempt from these restrictions.

The new measures will take effect from April 7 and will be implemented in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir.

In divisional headquarters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, markets and shopping malls will be allowed to remain open until 9:00 PM.

Officials noted that consultations are still ongoing in Sindh regarding market timings, and a final decision is yet to be made for the province.