Sindh govt announces new market, restaurants timings

KARACHI: The Sindh government has established new operating hours for businesses throughout the province because of its austerity policy, which requires all businesses in Karachi and other divisional headquarters to shut down operations at 9 PM on all days, including weekends.

The Home Department issued an official notification on April 10, which stated that all districts except for divisional headquarters must enforce more strict business operating hours, which require all shops, markets, and shopping malls to close their doors at 8 PM.

The order has been issued with immediate effect as part of fuel conservation measures and in line with the broader austerity push being implemented across the country.

The restrictions will not affect multiple critical services, which must continue their operations. The notification stated that tandoors operating as standalone shops, milk and dairy shops, bakeries, medical stores and pharmacies, laboratories and clinics, hospitals, and fuel pumps will remain exempt from restrictions.

The provincial government has established different operating hours for the hospitality industry. The operating hours for hotels, restaurants, and food outlets permit them to serve dinner from 7 PM until 11 30 PM, while they can continue their home delivery and takeaway services throughout the entire day.

In Sindh, all marriage halls, wedding venues, and banquet facilities have permission to conduct their operations from 8 PM until 12 midnight. The notification requires commissioners and deputy commissioners to implement new business operating hours in their areas, with assistance from Sindh Police, who will help them enforce these changes.

The federal government introduced energy conservation policies and early market closing times for most regions in the country, which led to this decision. Sindh had initially delayed adopting the same operating hours because of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.