Markets in Rawalpindi, Islamabad to close by 9pm from today.

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI -- The government has notified new timings for the closure of businesses in the twin cities to deal with power crisis.

According to a notification issued by the district administration of Islamabad, due to the hot weather, demand for electricity in the capital territory had increased manifold, subjecting critical infrastructures like hospitals and other establishments of public importance to extended loadshedding. Islamabad is facing severe outages because of the electricity shortage.

'There is an urgent need to take effective measures for the conservation of energy in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) by doing business activities in daylight without imparting possible adverse effect on the business activities so that electricity remains available for critical establishments.

'In view of the decision taken by the federal cabinet on June 7, 2022, to take effective measures to reduce loadshedding hours through conservation of energy and to prevent and minimise the impacts of anticipated energy shortfall in Pakistan through implementation of a national strategy for tackling the energy crisis, it is necessary to enforce certain restrictions on nonessential businesses so that this prevalent emergency of the energy shortfall may be controlled in Islamabad,' it stated.

'In exercise of powers conferred under Section 144 CrPC 1898, it is directed that all shops (wholesale or retail), shopping malls, bakeries and confectionaries, offices, storerooms, godowns, warehouses or places of work whether in same premises or otherwise and cattle markets will be closed by 9pm,' said the notification.

Marriage halls, marquees, wedding ceremonies, including any exhibitory lighting for marriage functions inside or outside the premises and exhibition halls will be closed at 10pm.

All establishments (commercial or industrial), restaurants, clubs, tandoors, eateries, cafes, cinemas, theatres or other places of public amusement and public parks will be closed at 11:30pm.

Exceptions have been given to hospitals and laboratories, commercial ambulance service areas, medical clinics, pharmacies and medical stores (sale of medical and pharmaceutical goods only, all other stores, sections to remain closed/off), petrol pumps (only retail fuel services), tyre repair shops, service areas, bus stops, sabzi mandi in Islamabad and milk shops.

Meanwhile, as pre-monsoon rains have started, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon visited different...