The Sindh government has announced revised closing timings for markets and shopping centers across the province as part of new austerity measures aligned with federal directives.
The decision, aimed at managing energy consumption, introduces earlier shutdown hours for commercial activity in major urban centers as well as other districts.
The Government of Sindh, under its austerity policy, has decided to close shops and shopping malls in cities other than major metropolitan areas, including Karachi, at 8 p.m.
According to an official notification, new operating hours have been enforced for markets, hotels, and wedding halls.
The notification says that the new timings will apply seven days a week.
Under the government’s decision, tandoors (bakeries), dairy shops, bakeries, medical stores, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, and petrol pumps have been exempted from these restrictions.
It has further been said that hotels and food outlets will be allowed to remain open from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., while wedding halls and banquet facilities have been permitted to host events from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Earlier, the federal government had directed that markets nationwide close at 8pm and marriage halls at 10pm. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and was set to take effect from Tuesday.
