Energy dept orders shopping centres to shut businesses by 9pm

KARACHI: Following directions from Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, the Sindh energy department on Tuesday issued a notification directing the city administration to ensure closure of shopping centres by 9pm across the province, particularly in Karachi, in order to mitigate the power crisis, Express News reported.

According to the notification, commercial shopping centres are have been directed to close by 9pm whereas restaurants and marriage halls have been directed to close by 11pm.

Read: Power outages hit Karachi as demand hits record high on sweltering first day of Ramazan

The city’s businessmen have objected to the directions, which were issued by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Monday evening.

They argued that Eid shopping will begin by the end of this week and it will not be possible for them to shut their businesses by 9pm.

As per tradition, markets in Karachi are usually only open till Iftari during the first 10 days of Ramazan.