Early market closure suspended in Pindi

Administration allows malls, eateries to remain open longer ahead of Eid

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi administration has withdrawn the notification imposing energy conservation timings across the district under which markets and shops were required to close at 8pm and hotels, restaurants, marquees and food outlets at 10pm.

The notification has been suspended till June 1 in view of the approaching Eidul Azha and on the demand of traders. Orders for withdrawal of the restrictions have also been issued, allowing shopkeepers, markets, plazas and shopping malls to remain open according to business needs.

Hotel, Bakers and Restaurant Association leaders and traders' bodies welcomed the decision to end the Eid-season restrictions. They said the move would help businesses flourish and termed it a timely and positive decision by the government.

Hotel, Bakers and Restaurant Association President Chaudhry Farooq said the government had responded to traders' demands at the right time and helped revive business activity. He said Pakistan's climate conditions were unlike Europe where shopping activity could end early, adding that people here generally came out for shopping after sunset during summer.

He urged the government not only to extend the timings after June 1 but to permanently abolish the energy lockdown, saying businesses had suffered heavily due to the restrictions.