Restaurants seek dining extension

RAWALPINDI:

President of the Restaurants, Caterers, Sweets and Bakers Association, Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry, has urged the Punjab Chief Minister to extend restaurant dine-in hours until midnight during the summer season under the principle of "let business run, let the stove burn," saying the move would facilitate the public and help ease financial pressure on the food service industry.

He said that in summer, Maghrib prayers are offered around 7.30pm, after which families usually leave their homes around 8 pm and reach restaurants by approximately 8.30pm. Under the current policy, dine-in operations are required to close at 10pm, while new entry is stopped around 9.15pm, creating inconvenience for customers and significantly affecting business activity.

Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry noted that the restaurant, hotel, catering, sweets and bakery sectors are currently under severe financial strain, despite being a major source of employment for millions and a significant contributor to government tax revenue. He said thousands of workers, including waiters, kitchen staff, helpers, security guards and sanitation workers, depend on this industry for their livelihood.