Markets to close at 9pm as govt notifies fresh austerity, fuel conservation measures

The federal government has notified market closing timings and announced a fresh set of austerity and fuel conservation measures, effective immediately, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday.

Under the timings, shops, markets, bazaars and departmental, grocery and kiryana stores will close at 9pm throughout the week. Marriage halls and marquees will close at 10pm, while restaurants, cafés, eateries and standalone fruit and vegetable shops will close at 11pm; takeaway and home delivery will remain exempt. Pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, medical laboratories, bakeries, tandoors, dairy shops, fuel and EV charging stations, gyms, sports facilities, and IT companies and call centres will continue to be exempt from the timings.

The measures were approved on the recommendations of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Fuel Conservation and Additional Austerity Measures.

Fuel provision for official vehicles has been cut by 50 percent for three months, with exemptions for the Armed Forces, Civil Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, essential services and the FBR, barring their administrative or non-operational formations. Development projects are excluded from the measure.

The Non-ERE Budget for FY 2026-27 will be reduced by 5 percent, with deductions made monthly. The cut will also apply to foreign missions and officers or officials posted there, though their rent, educational fees and medical care obligations will continue to be met, with development projects excluded.

A complete ban has been placed on the purchase of all types of vehicles and durables, barring IT procurements, with development projects again excluded.

All foreign visits and travel have been banned for three months, even for obligatory engagements, except for scholarships offered by international development partners and training or courses arranged through the Economic Affairs Division or under institutional agreements of the government. Pakistan’s ambassador or high commissioner will represent the country at important events abroad in such cases.

Ministers, advisors, ministers of state, special assistants to the prime minister, and parliamentary and government functionaries have been directed to travel only in economy class for unavoidable visits.

Meetings will preferably be held through teleconferencing, except intra-city meetings, while no official dinners will be hosted except for visiting foreign delegations. Government-funded seminars, trainings and conferences have been banned; unavoidable events must be held at government venues such as auditoriums and committee rooms. Only a single dish will be served at marriage-related functions.

Exemption requests may be considered case-by-case by the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Fuel Conservation and Additional Austerity Measures, which will forward its recommendations for the prime minister’s approval, the notification said, adding that such exemptions will not require further clearance from the Austerity Committee constituted by the Finance Division. Provincial and regional governments have also been asked to consider adopting similar measures.