Retailers propose 10pm business closure time

The Chainstore Association of Pakistan (CAP) – a retailers' lobby – has welcomed the temporary extension in retail business hours granted ahead of Eidul Azha and has urged the prime minister and federal cabinet to adopt a permanent, nationwide retail closing time of 10 pm before the limited relaxation expires.

In a statement, CAP said the temporary relief had helped restore commercial activity, consumer convenience and business confidence after nearly five weeks of restrictive operating hours that disrupted the broader economic ecosystem linked to retail activity.

The association emphasised that the impact of early closure extended far beyond retail outlets, affecting manufacturers, logistics service providers, transporters, shopping malls, other services providers, SMEs, warehouses and thousands of workers connected to evening commercial activity across the country.

Approximately 60% of Pakistan's manufacturing sector and 20% of services sector feed directly into retail activity, making retail throughput a critical driver of broader economic continuity and employment generation.

"The temporary Eid relief has demonstrated that balanced retail timings till 10 pm are both workable and economically sound," remarked Tariq Mehboob, Patron-in-Chief of CAP. "The issue is no longer limited to retailers alone. The economic impact extends across manufacturing, services, logistics, shopping malls and employment throughout the value chain."