Pakistan extends fuel‑saving austerity measures and revises shop hours until June 30

The federal government of Pakistan announced on Wednesday that its austerity drive and fuel‑conservation measures will remain in force until 30 June 2026. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Fuel Conservation and Additional Austerity Measures, which approved extensions and new operating‑hour rules.

Consular attestation services in Islamabad, Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Gujrat and Lahore will stay open on Fridays. Grocery and kiryana stores may now stay open until 10 pm daily, while all other shops, markets and malls must close by 9 pm. Restaurants, cafés and eateries are allowed to serve until 11 pm, and takeaway and delivery services are exempt. Marriage halls will continue to close at 10 pm. Essential services such as pharmacies, hospitals, fuel stations and IT/telecom operators remain exempt from the restrictions. Provinces have been instructed to enforce the revised schedule. The measures, first introduced in April in response to rising fuel costs linked to Middle‑East tensions, had been temporarily eased ahead of Eid ul‑Adha.