Authorities have set fixed closing hours for markets and wedding halls in a bid to ease pressure on energy resources.
According to the Gilgit-Baltistan Home Department, all markets and business centres will close by 8pm, while medical stores and pharmacies will remain exempt from the restriction.
An official statement said all wedding halls and outdoor wedding functions must conclude by 10pm. The directives will come into force from April 6, 2026.
Meanwhile, the implementation of decisions taken at a meeting on austerity measures, chaired by Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, has formally begun. The Balochistan Home Department has issued a notification in this regard.
The statement said market timings, wedding halls and restaurant hours have been revised to conserve energy. Markets will close at 8pm, with dispensaries and tandoors exempt. Wedding halls and related events must end by 10pm, while restaurants and hotels will shut at 10pm.
Officials said the new timings have been set to improve public discipline, and district administrations have been directed to ensure compliance.
It is pertinent to note that the federal government is also considering economic austerity measures, including reduced market hours, to lessen pressure on energy resources. If approved, markets will close earlier than the usual schedule.
A meeting held a few days earlier, attended by chief ministers of all four provinces, reviewed the proposal. It was considered that only wedding halls and restaurants may remain open until 10pm.
