Government Decides to Keep Grocery and General Stores Open Until 10 PM

The government has decided to allow grocery and general stores to remain open until 10:00 PM, with the new operating hours applying on all days of the week, including Saturdays and Sundays.

The decision was finalized during a meeting on fuel conservation and austerity measures chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The meeting reviewed requests from various ministries and divisions seeking exemptions from austerity measures, and recommendations were finalized after considering multiple cases.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister said that, for the convenience of the public, a decision has been made to extend the operating hours of consular services.

Under the new arrangements, consular attestation services at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its liaison offices will continue to be available on Fridays as well. Consular services will be offered on Fridays in Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Gujrat, and Lahore.

The meeting also recommended extending additional austerity measures until June 30, 2026.

The move is being presented as part of a broader effort to balance fuel-saving and austerity measures while ensuring greater public convenience through improved access to essential services.