ISLAMABAD:Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Monday chaired an important review meeting on the implementation of measures regarding petroleum products, energy conservation and austerity.
During the meeting, it was decided to close bazaars, markets, shopping malls in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir at 8 pm.
Bazaars, markets and shopping malls in the divisional headquarters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be allowed to remain open until 9 pm. This decision has been taken in consultation with the provincial government.
It was decided that shops of daily necessities, departmental stores and all types of malls will also close at 8 pm. While bakeries, restaurants, tandoors, and other food and beverage shops will be closed at 10 pm. Marriage halls, marquees, and other commercial places where weddings are held will remain closed after 10 pm.
The meeting decided that there will be a ban on holding wedding ceremonies after 10 pm in private properties and homes. Working hours of medical stores and pharmacies will be exempted from these restrictions.
The decisions taken in the meeting will be implemented from April 7.
Consultation process is underway in Sindh province regarding markets and working hours.
It was told during briefing that the process of transferring the subsidy given by the federal government for the petroleum products through digital wallets is underway and one lac transactions have been done.
The Prime Minister thanked the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir for taking a unanimous decision on these important matters of national importance.
“The Sindh government is in consultation with stakeholders. I hope that the Chief Minister of Sindh will also join this decision after completing the consultation process soon,” he said adding, “Intercity public transport in Gilgit city and Muzaffarabad city will be free for one month and all expenses will be borne by the federal government.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema and senior government officials concerned attended the meeting.