Rawalpindi traders oppose early market closures, seek extended business hours

RAWALPINDI: Traders and business representatives in Rawalpindi have opposed the government’s austerity-linked restrictions on commercial operating hours and called for an immediate extension in timings for markets, shopping malls, hotels and restaurants.

At a joint press conference led by Central Anjuman-e-Tajiran Punjab President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha, trader leaders from Rawalpindi city and cantonment, including Sheikh Hafeez, Tariq Jadoon, Zafar Qadri and Munir Baig, said commercial centres should be allowed to remain open until 10pm, while hotels and restaurants should be permitted to operate until midnight.

The representatives said traders had consistently cooperated with the government and local administration in the national interest, but added that their concerns were not being addressed. They described the current environment as difficult for businesses and said the existing schedule in Punjab requires shops to close at 8pm and hotels and restaurants at 10pm.

They termed the restrictions unjust and said such decisions were enforced quickly, while demands for revision were being ignored. The traders urged the authorities to revise market closing hours from 8pm to 10pm and restaurant timings from 10pm to 12am without delay.

Concerns over inflation and fuel prices

The trader representatives also raised concern over inflation, saying government policies had contributed to rising prices. They particularly pointed to fuel costs as a major factor and demanded that petrol prices be reduced to a level affordable for the public.

They said the government should provide relief to citizens instead of relying on fuel prices for revenue generation. According to the traders, businesses are already under strain because of inflation, the impact of earlier lockdowns and a growing tax burden.

The traders also referred to Federal Minister for Energy Owais Leghari’s statement regarding the absence of load-shedding and called on the authorities to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply until shops close.

Warning of protest action

The business leaders warned that if their demands on operating hours were not accepted, they would consult one another and launch a protest movement. They said they wanted to avoid confrontation, but cautioned that continued disregard for the concerns of traders and the public would lead to consequences for which the government would be responsible.

With Eidul Azha approaching, the traders said they had repeatedly protested in the past over the issue, including a demonstration on Murree Road two and a half months ago. They added that they had shown restraint in recent weeks because of national considerations and the presence of visiting foreign guests.

The representatives said the continuation of early closures was causing business losses running into millions of rupees each day. During the press conference, they also paid tribute to the armed forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the nation on the completion of one year of Marka-e-Haq, and said the business community stood firmly with the armed forces.