After Sindh province, markets, bazaars and business centers in Punjab will also be closed at 9 pm.
Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, in consultation with Punjab business community officials, announced closure of markets, bazaars and business centers across the province at 9 pm to save energy.
Hamza Shahbaz said that restaurants across Punjab would remain open till 11:30 pm. The marriage halls will be open till 10 pm under the previous policy while special discounts will be given to the business community during business hours on Saturdays. The decision to close at 9 am will not apply to medical stores.
Hamza Shahbaz said that the working hours policy for Eid shopping would be reviewed in consultation with the business community and their demand would be considered sympathetically.
The Punjab Chief Minister said that the business community had expressed its full support to the government initiatives in the energy crisis and appreciated the initiatives taken by the government for energy saving.
Hamza Shahbaz said that the business community has always stood by the nation in difficult times and I still thank the business community for their unconditional support to the government initiatives.
He said that consultation is a blessing and decisions taken through consultation always yield positive results. The business community has a key role to play in improving the economy and their legitimate issues will be resolved.
During the meeting with the Chief Minister, the officials of the business community also expressed their views and suggestions.
Khawaja Salman Rafique, Khawaja Ahmad Hassan, Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Syed Ali Haider Gilani, Ata Tarar, Chaudhry Bilal Asghar, Imran Goraya, Chief Secretary and concerned officials were also present on the occasion.
