- Consular services will remain open on Friday throughout the country.
- Grocery stores have allowed extended evening hours.
- Provinces must apply the revised federal guidelines.
ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday extended its austerity and fuel-saving measures until June 30, while also revising the opening hours of businesses across the country, according to an official statement.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Additional Fuel Economy and Austerity Measures, which reviewed the exemptions requested by various ministries and divisions and finalized its recommendations.
The committee decided that the consular attestation services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its liaison offices at Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Gujrat and Lahore will remain open on Fridays to facilitate the work of the public.
It further recommends extending the validity of austerity measures, which were initially due to expire on June 13, 2026, until June 30, 2026.
The committee also approved the extension of the closing time of standalone grocery stores and Kiryana stores to 10 p.m. on all days, including weekends.
Earlier, the federal government had issued a notification introducing revised deadlines for business closures as part of fuel-saving measures, directing provincial governments to ensure implementation.
According to the revised schedule, shops, markets, malls and retail outlets will close at 9 p.m., while restaurants, cafes and eateries will be allowed to operate until 11 p.m.
Takeaway and delivery services have been exempted from these restrictions. Wedding halls and event venues will continue to close at 10 p.m. without any schedule changes.
Essential services, including pharmacies, hospitals, gas stations, and IT and telecommunications services, will remain exempt from the updated regulations.
The committee also asked provincial governments to ensure effective implementation of the revised guidelines in coordination with federal authorities.
The austerity measures were initially introduced in April as part of a broader energy-saving strategy in response to rising fuel prices linked to regional tensions in the Middle East. Restrictions were temporarily eased ahead of Eid ul Adha, with multiple provincial and federal relaxations granted throughout May.
