Govt mulling to extend austerity measures, smaller stores to be open until 10pm

The government has recommended extending a number of additional austerity measures until June 30 and approved longer operating hours for standalone grocery and kiryana stores across the country.

The decisions were taken during a meeting of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Fuel Conservation and Additional Austerity Measures, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Wednesday.

According to an official statement, the committee reviewed requests submitted by various ministries and divisions seeking exemptions from certain austerity measures and finalised its recommendations on the cases.

Consular services to remain open on Fridays

The committee also decided that consular attestation services at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its liaison offices in Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Gujrat and Lahore would remain operational on Fridays to facilitate the public.

In addition, members recommended extending the validity of austerity measures that were due to expire on June 13, 2026, until the end of the month.

Grocery stores get extended hours

The meeting further approved extending the closing time for standalone grocery and kiryana stores to 10pm on all days of the week, including Saturdays and Sundays.

The committee meeting was attended by the ministers for petroleum, climate change, and information technology and telecommunications, as well as senior government officials from relevant ministries and departments.

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