The Punjab government has granted significant relief to traders and shopkeepers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha by suspending the order that required shops to close early under the lockdown until June 1.
According to the official notification, all shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and food outlets are exempted from closing by 8 PM until June 1. The notification stated that this decision follows up on a previous notification issued on April 6, giving relief to businesses from the early closure requirement.
In Rawalpindi, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Hasan Waqar Cheema also issued a notification granting exemption from early business closures in the city. He confirmed that shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and food outlets in Rawalpindi will no longer be required to close at the earlier prescribed time.
The decision was welcomed by traders’ representatives, including Farooq Chaudhry, President of the Hotels, Bakers & Restaurants Association, and Saleem Parvez Butt, President of the Grocery Merchants Association, who called it a positive step for business communities.
It is noteworthy that under the previous government decision, as part of the energy-saving program, shops were required to close by 8 PM, while vegetable, fruit, bakeries, and hotels were required to close by 10 PM.
