Traders reject return of 8pm closure rule
The temporary relaxation granted during Eidul Azha under the government's energy conservation programme came to an end on Sunday, prompting traders across the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to demand the permanent withdrawal of the directive requiring markets and shops to close at 8pm.
Representatives of major traders' bodies announced that from Monday all markets and shopping centres would resume normal business hours and remain open until 10pm or 11pm.
They warned that any attempt by the government to reimpose the early closure policy would be met with strong resistance and protests.
At the same time, office-bearers of the High Court Bar and District Bar Associations, along with senior lawyers, renewed their demand for the abolition of FridaySaturday court holidays, arguing that the policy has severely disrupted the justice system and caused significant delays in legal proceedings.
As part of measures introduced to address the energy crisis and reduce petroleum consumption, the government had earlier ordered commercial establishments to close at 8pm and declared Friday, Saturday and Sunday holidays for courts and various public institutions. However, the 8pm market closure policy was temporarily suspended until May 31 due to Eidul Azha, while the extended weekend holidays remained in force.
Following the expiry of the Eid concession, Central Anjuman-e-Tajran President Sharjeel Mir, Kiryana Merchants Association President Saleem Parvez Butt, Anjuman Tajran Cantonment President Sheikh Hafeez and Secretary Zafar Qadri called for the complete cancellation of the early-closing notification.
The traders' leaders argued that regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel had subsided and that there was no justification for reinstating restrictions on business hours.
They maintained that rising business activity and reduced fuel pressures had rendered the policy unnecessary, adding that early market closures had inflicted severe losses on traders and damaged commercial activity. They warned that any renewed attempt to enforce the measure would be strongly opposed.
Meanwhile, High Court Bar Association President Saeed Yousaf Khan, District Bar Association President Tariq Mahmood, senior lawyer Sajid Awan, and advocates Shan Zeb Khan and Masood Shah called for the immediate withdrawal of the FridaySaturday court closure policy.
They contended that three consecutive weekly holidays had effectively paralysed the judicial system, delaying hearings in important cases and making the delivery of timely justice increasingly difficult.
The lawyers urged the authorities to issue a circular directing all courts to remain operational on Friday and Saturday, 5 and 6 June, in accordance with the normal schedule. Following the five-day Eidul Azha holiday, wholesale markets, goods transport operations, public and private offices, as well as sessions, civil, family, magistrates' and special courts, are set to reopen on Monday.
As a result, commercial, business, administrative and judicial activities across the city are expected to return to normal, restoring the usual bustle and economic activity.