Read, Digital Desk : Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, has implemented a revised closing schedule for businesses, ordering them to be shut by 8 p.m. From Monday. The district administration took the decision as energy costs mounted up owing to the ongoing war in West Asia.
The district administration chief of Islamabad, Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon said in social media post that the new market closing times will apply from Monday to Sunday on a daily basis and that all markets must be closed at 8 pm. Restaurant, grocery shops are allowed to remain open until 10 pm.
‘cost-cutting measures’
“The Islamabad district administration has implemented revised business timings from today (June 1, 2026) as part of ongoing cost-cutting measures. Markets, shops and shopping malls will close at 8:00 pm, while restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and other eating places will remain open till 10:00 pm,” the post on X read.
There will be no restrictions on these
It added that “Marriage halls, marquees and other event venues will also close at 10:00 pm. Essential services, including pharmacies, hospitals, petrol pumps, dairy shops, sports facilities, call centers and IT companies serving international clients will be exempted from these restrictions”.
These restrictions will also be applicable to any event/gathering on private property and the decision to cut working hours comes after the government introduced stringent measures to cut power consumption after fuel prices soared in March, following the US-Israeli assault on Iran.
However, traders and shopkeepers have generally protested against such restrictions in the past, as markets usually open at around 12 p.m. And operate late into the night.
Fuel shortage in Pakistan
Pakistan largely relies on the Strait of Hormuz for its energy supply. Though some of its fuel tankers have been given passage during the crisis, consignments are delivered at higher costs due to mounting global energy prices.
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