ISLAMABAD: Punjab government has decided to allow shops to continue their businesses after 9:00 pm and on Sundays, reversing a previous decision imposed to deal with energy crisis in the country, ARY NEWS reported.
The decision was made by Chief Minister Punjab Parvez Elahi during a meeting with traders. “The markets will remain open Sundays to facilitate the shop owners,” he said.
Punjab government and traders previously agreed to enforce an energy-saving plan from June 20.
The decision was taken after a meeting of traders with Punjab CM Hamza Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore. In the first phase, the energy-saving plan was enforced in major cities of Punjab including Lahore and others.
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Markets in Punjab were allowed to open 8 in the morning and close by 9:00pm.
Pharmacies, bakeries and petrol pumps were exempted from timing restrictions. The authorities also mulled over an early closure of restaurants and hotels.
