Government finalizes new austerity-related measures, allowing grocery stores to remain open until 10 PM while extending selected public services nationwide.
Pakistan has announced a significant relief measure for consumers by allowing grocery and general convenience stores to remain open until 10:00 PM across the country. The decision was finalized during a high-level meeting on fuel conservation and austerity measures chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
According to official details, the revised business hours will be implemented throughout the week, including Saturdays and Sundays, providing greater convenience for shoppers and retailers alike. The move is expected to ease public access to essential household items while balancing ongoing energy-saving initiatives.
During the meeting, various requests from ministries and divisions seeking exemptions from existing austerity measures were reviewed. After examining multiple cases, recommendations were finalized and submitted for implementation.
The Deputy Prime Minister also announced an expansion of consular service hours to improve public facilitation. Under the new arrangement, consular attestation services at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its liaison offices will continue to operate on Fridays.
Citizens will be able to access consular services on Fridays in major cities including Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Gujrat, and Lahore.
In addition, the meeting recommended extending supplementary austerity measures until June 30, 2026, reflecting the government’s continued focus on energy conservation and efficient resource management while maintaining essential public services.
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