Eatery owners reject govt's time schedule.

RAWALPINDI -- Owners of eateries have rejected the deadline set for closing down food outlets in a bid to save electricity, and warned that they would react if the timetable was enforced forcefully.

Last week, the Punjab government had notified that shopping malls, bakeries, warehouses and private offices should close at 9pm and restaurants, cinemas, clubs and circuses at 11:30pm. Besides, the provincial government made it mandatory for those outlets that had to close at 9pm to observe a weekly holiday either on Friday or Sunday. Restaurants, cinemas and clubs, however, were exempted from this condition.

All Rawalpindi Restaurants Association President Mohammad Farooq Chaudhry rejected the timeframe and warned of protesting in case the relevant authorities imposed a fine on any restaurant over non-compliance of the timings.

He said the government had allowed takeaway service even during the Covid-19 lockdown, adding that restaurants had decided to...