Pakistan decides to close markets, shopping malls amid austerity measures

Bakeries, restaurants, tandoors and other food-related shops, marriage halls, marquees, and other commercial places where weddings are held, will remain closed after 10 PM

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 7th, 2026) The Federal government has decided to close markets, shopping malls, and commercial areas at 8 PM in the provinces of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision was taken in a review meeting held in Islamabad with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.

The meeting focused on the implementation of energy-saving and austerity measures related to petroleum products.

It was also decided in consultation with the provincial governments, that in the Divisional Headquarters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, markets and shopping malls will remain open until 9 PM.

Similarly, all general stores, departmental stores, and all types of malls will be closed at 8 PM.

Moreover, bakeries, restaurants, tandoors and other food-related shops, marriage halls, marquees, and other commercial places where weddings are held, will remain closed after 10 PM.

The meeting also decided to impose a ban on holding wedding events after 10 pm in private properties and houses.

The meeting decided that medical stores and pharmacies will be exempt from these restrictions.

These decisions will take effect on Tuesday.

The meeting was informed that consultations regarding market hours and other related matters in Sindh province are underway.

The meeting was briefed that federal government's subsidy on petroleum products is being disbursed through digital wallets and one hundred thousand transactions have been made so far.

Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked Chief Ministers of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for reaching consensus on these important national matters.

He expressed the hope that the Chief Minister of Sindh will also join the decision once consultations are completed.

The Prime Minister also announced that intra-city public transport in Gilgit and Muzaffarabad cities will be free for one month and the federal government will bear all the costs.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, and other senior government officials.