Energy conservation plan partially flouted.

LAHORE -- The district administration has failed to fully implement the closure of markets, shopping malls, wedding halls and restaurants as part of an energy conservation drive in the city.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Umer Sher Chattha made teams to ensure the implementation of the closure orders and established 18 clusters in five tehsils of the city.

District administration officials were seen visiting the markets and announcing the closure of the markets on Tuesday, but traders and hotel administrators would not be deterred.

The Punjab government has imposed a time limit under which merchant shops, bakeries, general stores, warehouses, shopping malls, private offices and godowns will remain open till 9pm, marriage halls 10pm and hotels, clubs, cinemas, recreational places, circus cafes and theatres till 11:30pm. However, most of the markets, shops and hotels flouted the time limit and remained operational till midnight.

One of the restaurant managers, who continued its operation at 3am on Monday, told Dawn that the district administration and police teams visited him to implement the order of closure but he somehow 'managed' the visiting officials.

He said the team came, took (free) dinner and left the place.

Another shopkeeper told Dawn that they would not follow the closure orders of the administration and would continue the business as usual through bribes.

Fresh juice shops, kiosks, internet cafes, merchant shops...