- Pharmacies, hospitals, medical stores exempt from restrictions.
- Petrol pumps and CNG stations to continue normal operations.
- Restaurants, food outlets and tandoors will close at 10 p.m.
As part of energy-saving measures following rising fuel prices and supply constraints caused by the US-Iran conflict, the Islamabad Capital Territory administration on Monday notified a revision of business timings in the city, requiring markets and shopping malls to close before 8 p.m.
According to the notification, which came into effect from June 1, 2026, the closure schedule applies to all major markets and shopping centers in Islamabad. However, essential services are exempt from the restrictions.
Under the new order, pharmacies, hospitals and medical stores will continue to operate without any change in their timings, and petrol pumps and CNG stations will also remain open as usual.
Restaurants, food outlets and tandoors have been ordered to close by 10 p.m., with the same deadline set for grocery stores, bakeries and fruit and vegetable shops, according to the latest notification.
Wedding halls, lawns and marquees have also been subject to the new schedule and will not be allowed to operate beyond 10 p.m.
Officials say the move is part of broader efforts to reduce energy consumption and streamline business activity during peak hours.
The latest notification follows a series of gradual relaxations and adjustments to working hours across the country in recent weeks, as federal and provincial authorities attempted to balance economic activity with energy-saving goals.
Earlier in May, the federal government temporarily eased mall closure restrictions across the country, allowing extended operating hours for markets, malls, restaurants and other businesses.
The move was later echoed by provincial governments before new restrictions were reintroduced in some regions, including Islamabad, as part of revised conservation plans linked to rising fuel costs and broader energy management efforts.
Most of the country’s electricity is generated from imported fossil fuels, including liquefied natural gas, whose prices have soared in recent months due to a raging military conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the region’s main crude oil transport route.
