Reprieve: Govt extends shop closure times by an hour

ISLAMABAD:

Negotiations between the government and traders on Saturday ended with a temporary reprieve for the latter, as the government extended closure timings for shops by an hour.

PML-N Member National Assembly for Islamabad Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary held talks with traders, who agreed to close shops by 9pm instead of the initial 8pm deadline.

They agreed that marriage halls will close by 10pm and restaurants by 11pm. Pharmacies, which do not sell anything other than medicines, have been exempted from the order.

The talks were held at the residence of Abdul Rauf Alam, chairman of the traders’ joint action committee (JAC).

Chaudhry said the PM had taken note of reservations expressed by traders and had instructed him to hold talks with them. He said the government had decided to give one hour “temporary” relief to shopkeepers.

Restaurants, he said, will be given an additional half hour after 11pm for customers to finish their meals. He said this was only a temporary arrangement.

Chaudhary also assured traders the administration will not take any coercive measures against them even while talks are ongoing. Traders, on their part, agreed not to resort to strikes during this time.

JAC Chairman Alam demanded a uniform policy for the capital and Punjab, and urged the government to avoid taking unilateral decisions.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2015.