Karachi markets to shut at 8:30 pm, wedding halls at 10 pm

Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Iqbal Memon on Saturday issued a new decree declaring that markets would shut at 8:30 pm and wedding halls would close by 10 pm.

All deputy commissioners were notified of the changes and told that federal government orders regarding the energy crisis should be implemented.

Earlier this year, the federal cabinet had approved the National Energy Conservation Plan, introducing certain measures to ensure judicious utilisation of national resources, including early closure of markets and restaurants and stopping unnecessary use of electric appliances in all government offices.

Unveiling the salient features of the austerity plan at a media briefing after the cabinet meeting, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that energy-saving reforms were being introduced across the country. He urged people to change their habits in order to conserve energy.

“We need to change our lifestyle with reference to the use of energy. Our habits are different from the rest of the world. We generate our own energy, instead of natural energy, which incurs production cost,” the defence minister told reporters.

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According to the energy conservation plan, restaurants, hotels, and markets would close by 8:30 pm, while wedding halls by 10 pm. Besides, the production of incandescent light bulbs and inefficient electricity fans would be stopped. The government also planned to levy additional duties on inefficient electric fans.

“With this initiative [early markets closure], which has been taken in consultation with trade bodies, there will be a saving of around Rs62 billion [annually],” Asif said. “The plan has been discussed with the business community and they agree to this initiative,” he added.

This week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that “the energy saving programme will be strictly implemented now”.

“If shops, commercial centres and markets stayed open after 8:30 pm, their power supply will be cut off.”

He stressed the need for the nation to embrace the culture of austerity. When asked how the minister would “survive” with these measures, Shehbaz said that “they will live their lives as they used to live [before coming into power]”.