Punjab Government Relaxes Market Timing Restrictions Until June 1
May 2026 | By Azad News
The Punjab government has announced temporary relief from strict market closure timings, allowing shops, shopping malls, restaurants, and food outlets to remain open beyond previously imposed limits until June 1, 2026.
The decision comes after strong protests from traders, appeals by shopping mall associations, and growing public criticism regarding the early closure policy.
According to an official notification issued by Punjab’s Services and General Administration Department, businesses across the province are now exempt from the earlier mandatory closure timings.
The restrictions were originally introduced in April as part of nationwide energy conservation measures following the global fuel crisis linked to the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran.
Under the earlier policy, markets and shopping centres were required to close by 8pm, while restaurants and food outlets had to shut by 10pm throughout the week.
The move had faced heavy criticism from traders and the general public, particularly due to rising temperatures and Pakistan’s evening shopping culture.
Many citizens argued that office workers returning home in the evening had limited time left for shopping before markets closed.
Traders also complained about strict enforcement actions by authorities, including fines and sealing of shops that remained open beyond the prescribed hours.
The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the government’s decision, calling it an important business-friendly step that would support commercial activity and protect jobs.
Business leaders said the easing of restrictions would help stabilise economic activity and reduce financial pressure on traders and employees.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also agreed to ease similar restrictions in their province to improve public convenience and support the business sector.
Officials in KP said a joint strategy would be adopted to balance energy-saving measures with economic needs and public facilitation.
Conclusion
The Punjab government’s decision to relax market timing restrictions reflects growing pressure to balance energy conservation policies with economic realities, public convenience, and the concerns of the business community.
This article is a rewritten summary based on publicly available information. It has been fully paraphrased for informational purposes only and does not reproduce any original copyrighted text.
