Karachi, May 16,2026: The Sindh government has exempted shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, marriage halls and marquees from fixed closing timings, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced on Saturday.
Sharing the official notification on X, Memon said the provincial government had withdrawn the previously imposed 9pm closure restriction for commercial activities across the province.
According to the notification, all shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, food outlets, marriage halls and marquees will now be allowed to operate beyond the earlier deadline.
“This decision reflects our commitment to economic growth, public convenience, and support for the business community, which remains the backbone of our economy,” Memon said.
Last month, the Sindh government had imposed mandatory 9pm closing timings for markets and shopping centres in Karachi and other divisional headquarters as part of austerity and energy conservation measures amid rising global oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Earlier on April 6, the federal government had also announced nationwide energy-saving measures under which markets across the country — except in Sindh — were directed to close by 8pm due to the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
The latest move by the Sindh government comes a day after the Punjab government partially relaxed business hour restrictions until June 1 following protests by traders and requests from shopping mall associations and the general public.
Business leaders had argued that early market closures were negatively affecting commercial activity and public convenience, particularly during evening shopping hours.
