Saving energy

In a bid to combat the ‘energy crisis emergency’, Sindh and Punjab have announced limiting the operating hours of markets, shopping malls, wedding halls and restaurants, for a month. The idea is to bridge the gap between power generating and consumption which has been unusually high these days due to an extreme hot weather as well as shortage of oil to run power plants at their full capacity. In both the provinces, markets, bazaars, shops and shopping malls have to be closed by 9pm while marriage halls restaurants and cafes have been given laxity of an hour or two. Of course, essential places such as pharmacies, hospitals, petrol pumps, bakeries and milk shops are exempt.

While there has been a mixed response by the general public to the new trading hours, market associations have rejected them outright. The All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran, a representative body of retailers in Karachi, has refused to comply with the Sindh government’s order as they believe that day-time load-shedding is already proving fatal to businesses while scorching heat will prevent citizens from coming out during the day. They have also warned that use of force would be met with resistance. Shopkeepers and traders in Punjab are up in arms too.

However, given the fact that most of the shopping centres generally close around 9pm, one believes the new business hours are only going to affect the big shopping malls as well as restaurants and cafes that operate well past midnight. Besides, the businessmen and shopkeepers should not mistake this temporary remedy for a permanent arrangement, and should be willing to make whatever contribution they can to an overall effort of a government faced with a challenging task of preventing the national economy from a complete collapse. If still the business community finds it difficult to swallow, they should initiate a dialogue with the government instead of resorting to resistance. A middle-ground can be worked upon.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2022.

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