Karachi traders, restaurant owners agree to reduce business hours

The Sindh government has convinced traders and businessmen in Karachi to reduce daily business hours in order to conserve energy, with traders agreeing to close markets by 9pm and restaurant owners by midnight.

Express News reported that a meeting between the stakeholders and representatives of Sindh government took place on Thursday at the Karachi Commissioner's office where they discussed the timings of markets, wedding halls, and restaurants across the province.

Speaking on the occasion, provincial minister Saeed Ghani said that the representatives of the federal government met with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and provincial cabinet members and gave their suggestions for energy conservation.

He said that the federal government suggested closing wedding halls and restaurants by 10pm and markets by 8pm.

Read more: Markets to be shut at 10pm

CM Murad, he said, decided to consult the stakeholders of the province instead of making a decision himself.

Ghani said that the financial situation of the country was unsatisfactory, therefore, the Centre had decided to save energy in order to save precious foreign exchange.

He said that the economic condition would improve by implementing the federal government's proposal. However, he added that all decisions would be taken amicably and after consultation with stakeholders.

The participating traders expressed their willingness to shut down the markets early, saying that they would close wholesale markets before 8pm. However, they said that the general markets should remain open until 9pm.

Similarly, restaurant owners also agreed to close their businesses early, but they asked for permission to keep them open till 12am.

Karachi Commissioner Iqbal Memon, provincial ministers Saeed Ghani, Ikramullah Dharijo and Mukesh Kumar Chawla, and representatives of the traders and marriage hall associations were participants of the meeting.