Govt decides to close markets at 8:30 pm to save energy

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The federal government and all four provinces have decided to close the markets and bazaars at 8:30 pm in principle to save energy.

According to local news channel report, an important consultation has been completed in the meeting of the National Economic Council chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday.

The channel report said that the four provinces agreed to close the market early to resolve the current energy crisis in the country.

In the meeting, for the next financial year, the federal and provincial development budget is proposed to be Rs2,184 billion.

As per the official statement about the meeting, the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Chief Ministers agreed in principle with the decisions of the Federal Cabinet on nationwide measures to deal with the energy crisis.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz and Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qaddos Bizenjo.

The meeting held important consultations with the Chief Ministers on the national strategy for tackling the energy crisis across the country.

In the meeting, the provincial chief ministers were informed about the proposals and decisions regarding energy saving in the meeting of the federal cabinet on June 7, 2022.

The four provinces agreed in principle to close bazaars and shops at 8:30 pm. The chief ministers of Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan have asked for two days to complete the consultation with trade and business organizations in their respective provinces.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was represented at the meeting by Chief Secretary Dr Shehzad Khan Bangash.

The Chief Ministers appreciated the steps taken by the Federal Government in tackling the energy crisis and assured their full cooperation in this regard.