ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province on Tuesday once again ordered all commercial markets to close by 9pm as part of measures to conserve energy amid prolonged outages across the South Asian country, local media reported.
Pakistani cities have been witnessing planned power outages for several hours a day, owing to an electricity shortfall in the country.
The restrictions, which will remain in effect till August 16, seek to reduce the shortfall between the supply and demand of electricity, Geo News reported.
“All the markets, bazaars, shops (wholesale or retail), super or departmental stores, and shopping malls shall be closed by 9:00pm,” the report said, citing a notification issued by the Sindh home department.
“Marriage halls and banquets shall be closed by 10:30pm, while hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, clubs, gyms, cinemas, theaters, circuses and other places of amusement and entertainment shall be closed by 11:30pm.”
All billboards and advertisement hoardings illuminated through electric connections shall be turned off by 9pm, according to the report. There will be no specific closing hours for Saturdays for all categories of businesses, however, a one-day week off will be observed either on Sunday or Friday.
Pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, petrol and CNG stations, bakeries, milk shops and information technology companies dealing with software development have been exempted from the restriction, the report said.
The restriction will also not apply to customer support centers, call centers, postal or courier services, factories, commercial ambulance service areas, tire repair shops, bus stations, vegetable market, service areas on motorways, food takeaways and deliveries, and warehouses for loading or unloading of goods.
The provincial government had imposed similar restrictions on markets and businesses on June 18, but eased them a week before Eid Al-Adha.
