ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved revised operating hours for grocery and general stores, permitting them to remain open until 10:00pm every day of the week.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the committee overseeing fuel conservation and austerity measures, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, the new schedule will be effective on weekdays as well as Saturdays and Sundays, allowing grocery and convenience stores to continue business until 10:00pm.
The committee also proposed extending the current austerity measures from June 13 to June 30, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to promote energy efficiency and prudent use of government resources.
In another public facilitation measure, the government announced that consular offices operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will now remain open on Fridays. The services will be available at centres in Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Gujrat, and Lahore, ensuring uninterrupted access to document attestation and other consular facilities.
The meeting also finalised recommendations regarding exemptions under the existing austerity framework.
Federal ministers, special assistants, and senior officials attended the session, including representatives from the Petroleum, Climate Change, Information Technology and Telecommunications ministries, along with the Cabinet, Commerce, Petroleum, and IT divisions. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant departments also participated.
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