Shopping malls, market to close at 8pm nationwide except Sindh amid fuel crisis

Consultation underway with Sindh government to align province with closure plan

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Web Desk April 06, 2026 1 min read

Photo: Reuters

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The federal government on Monday decided to close markets and shopping malls across Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir by 8 pm in an effort to conserve energy and implement austerity measures.

According to the Prime Minister's Office statement, the decision was made during a key review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which focused on energy-saving strategies, petroleum products, and austerity initiatives.

The meeting, attended by senior government officials, also addressed provincial exceptions.

In K-P, divisional headquarters will be allowed to keep markets, bazaars, and shopping malls open until 9 pm. It was decided after consultations with the provincial government.

Under the new regulations, general stores, departmental stores, and all types of malls will also close by 8 pm. However, bakeries, restaurants, tandoors, and food outlets will be allowed to remain open until 10 pm. The government has also decided to impose a ban on weddings and other events at marriage halls, marquees, and commercial venues after 10 pm.

Private properties and homes will also be prohibited from hosting weddings or social gatherings past 10 pm. However, medical stores and pharmacies will remain exempt from these restrictions.

These measures will come into effect starting April 7.

Read More: Sindh launches People's Motorcycle Fuel Subsidy Programme

However, the Sindh government is still in the consultation phase regarding market timings and other operational hours. The prime minister expressed optimism that the Sindh government, after consulting relevant stakeholders, would join the nationwide effort shortly.

In a positive development, the prime minister announced that public transport services within Gilgit city and Muzaffarabad would be free for one month, with all expenses borne by the federal government.

The meeting also provided an update on the government's initiative to transfer subsidies for petroleum products through digital wallets. A total of 100,000 transactions have been successfully processed under this program so far.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the chief ministers of Punjab, K-P, Balochistan, G-B, and the AJK PM for their consensus and cooperation on these crucial national issues. He further expressed confidence that the Sindh chief minister would soon align with the federal government’s decision after completing consultations.