Sindh removes fixed closing hours for markets, eateries

KARACHI: The Sindh government has withdrawn fixed closing hours for a range of commercial establishments, with Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon saying the move was taken to support businesses and ease matters for the public.

In a notification shared by Memon on X on Saturday, the provincial government exempted shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, food outlets, marriage halls and marquees from the 9pm closing deadline that had been imposed last month.

Memon said the decision was aimed at facilitating businesses and citizens. "This decision reflects our commitment to economic growth, public convenience, and support for the business community, which remains the backbone of our economy," he added.

The now-withdrawn restriction had been introduced by the Sindh government last month for shops, markets and shopping malls in Karachi and other divisional headquarters across the province. Under that order, businesses were required to shut at 9pm every day of the week, including Saturdays and Sundays.

According to the earlier notification, the measure had been adopted as part of austerity steps amid the Middle East conflict, which had triggered a global oil crisis.

Earlier restrictions and wider context

On April 6, the federal government announced that markets across the country, except in Sindh, would close by 8pm throughout the week. The federal decision was presented as part of energy conservation measures in response to a global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Saturday’s development in Sindh came a day after the Punjab government also eased its own restrictions on market timings. Punjab granted partial relief and suspended the restriction on market closing hours until June 1.

The Punjab decision followed protests by traders as well as appeals from the shopping malls association and members of the public seeking a revision of the 8pm business closure schedule.

The latest move by the Sindh government means that the categories listed in the notification are no longer bound by the fixed 9pm closing time that had been enforced last month.

Memon’s announcement marks a reversal of the provincial government’s earlier position on business hours, which had been framed around austerity and energy-related concerns. The exemption now applies to retail outlets as well as hospitality and event venues named in the notification.

The decision was announced publicly by the senior minister through his social media post along with the official notification.