Traders in twin cities oppose return of 8pm market closure rule

ISLAMABAD: Traders in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have called for the permanent withdrawal of the directive requiring markets and shops to close at 8pm after a temporary relaxation granted for Eidul Azha expired on Sunday.

Representatives of major traders' organisations said all markets and shopping centres in the twin cities would return to normal business hours from Monday and remain open until 10pm or 11pm. They also warned that any move to enforce the early closure policy again would be resisted through protests.

The restriction had been introduced by the government as part of an energy conservation plan aimed at addressing the energy crisis and cutting petroleum consumption. Under the same set of measures, courts and several public institutions were also placed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday holidays. The 8pm closure rule for commercial centres was later suspended until May 31 because of Eidul Azha, while the extended weekend holidays remained in place.

Traders seek complete withdrawal

Central Anjuman-e-Tajran President Sharjeel Mir, Kiryana Merchants Association President Saleem Parvez Butt, Anjuman Tajran Cantonment President Sheikh Hafeez and Secretary Zafar Qadri demanded that the notification on early market closure be scrapped altogether.

The traders' leaders said regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel had eased, leaving no reason to restore restrictions on business timings. They also argued that commercial activity had picked up and fuel-related pressure had declined, making the measure unnecessary. According to them, the earlier market shutdowns caused heavy losses to traders and hurt business activity in the twin cities.

Lawyers renew demand on court holidays

Separately, office-bearers of the High Court Bar and District Bar associations, along with senior lawyers, renewed their opposition to the Friday-Saturday court closure policy and called for its immediate withdrawal.

High Court Bar Association President Saeed Yousaf Khan, District Bar Association President Tariq Mahmood, senior lawyer Sajid Awan, and advocates Shan Zeb Khan and Masood Shah said three consecutive weekly holidays had badly affected the justice system. They said hearings in important cases were being delayed and timely disposal of cases was becoming increasingly difficult.

The lawyers urged the authorities to issue a circular directing all courts to function on Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6, under the normal schedule.

After the five-day Eidul Azha holidays, wholesale markets, goods transport operations, public and private offices, and sessions, civil, family, magistrates' and special courts are due to reopen on Monday. With that, commercial, administrative and judicial activity across the city is expected to resume.