The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that retail markets shall close at 10 PM and restaurants at 11 PM on daily basis, which has been implemented by the local authorities after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
For the last 15 days of Ramazan, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had permitted markets to remain open till 1 AM for the crucial Eid season. Restaurants in Lahore were already allowed to remain open from 6 PM to 6 AM during the Holy Month, as ruled by Lahore High Court earlier.
Previously, eateries in the provincial capital of Punjab were allowed to stay open upto 11 PM and markets till 10 PM according to restrictions imposed by the LHC in December 2022. These restrictions were first applied to control smog in the city but continue as administrative measures in consultation with trade representatives.
Representatives from the retail sector pleaded their case to allow shoppers to visit in the late hours for the remaining period of the Holy Month so that economic activity in the peak season can flourish. The Honourable Court permitted the temporary relaxation after due consultation with the industry stakeholders.
In the meantime, the Federal Government's efforts to enforce closures of retail businesses upto 8:30 PM have only been implemented in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The other Provincial Governments particularly Punjab have been unwilling to impose the unilateral restrictions due to fears that it will cripple the retail sector during the crucial Ramadan and Eid season. Retailers across the country have asked the Federal Government to reconsider and instead opt for 10 PM closing times all year-round (apart from weekends and festivals), as is the case in Lahore.
Representatives from the retail sector pleaded their case in the LHC to allow shoppers to visit in the late hours for the remaining period of the Holy Month so that economic activity in the peak season can flourish. The Honourable Court permitted the temporary relaxation after due consideration of the explanations given by the trade bodies.
The retail business community has appreciated the consultative approach taken by the LHC which they say should be replicated across the country to balance economic activity with conservation of energy and the environment.
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