Islamabad: The Federal Government has decided to extend the closing hours of shops, markets, and malls until 9:00 pm. This decision was made during a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, as part of ongoing efforts to review and implement austerity measures concerning market operations.

According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting also concluded that restaurants, caf©s, and eateries will be required to close by 11:00 pm, with the exception of takeaway and delivery services, which will continue to operate beyond these hours. Additionally, marriage halls and event venues are mandated to close by 10:00 pm. Essential services such as pharmacies, hospitals, fuel stations, IT, and telecom-related services are exempt from these new guidelines.

The meeting further instructed provincial governments to ensure the effective implementation of these guidelines in coordination with federal authorities, aiming for a seamless transition to the new market hours across the country.