Lahore: After Sindh, Punjab has also decided to limit business hours as part of the government’s energy conservation plan to save electricity, Geo News reported on Saturday.
According to TV channel sources, markets across the province will be closed at 9:00 pm, for which discussions have been completed with trade unions and chambers.
This scheme will be implemented from next week.
Under the first phase, restrictions have been imposed for two months and the decision to extend the period will be taken after evaluating the results.
Apart from this, sources revealed that the government is already contemplating closing the restaurants.
Commenting on the proposal, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Nauman Kabir said that the traders are with the government on all kinds of schemes related to the national interest.
“The implementation of the electricity saving scheme will help in saving electricity and petrol,” he said.
‘Energy crisis emergency’
The Sindh government on Friday issued a notification to reduce business hours amid an ‘energy crisis emergency’ in the country.
As per the notification, markets across the province will remain closed till 9 pm, wedding halls till 10:30 pm and eateries till 11 pm.
Hospitals, pharmacies, petrol pumps and bakeries will be out of the purview of the order.
In a statement, the provincial government said the crisis prompted the Sindh government to invoke sections of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Act, 2010 and issue an order reducing the hours of operation of shops and restaurants.