Pakistan’s government has now ordered that all the malls, markets and shops must be closed by 8:30 p.m (15:30 GMT). The country is currently facing shortage of energy and economic crisis. Pakistan’s defence minister says that shops are to be shut down by 8:30 p.m. and restaurants by 10 pm under new energy-saving plan.
The country has been suffering from shortage of cash because the money that was expected to come under an international monetary fund (IMF) program has been delayed. The foreign exchange reserves with the country can barely cover only a month of imports, majority of which are for the purchase of energy.
The cabinet has approved some measures which are expected to save the country about 62 billion Pakistani rupees ($273m). this is what is mentioned by Khwaja Asif ( the defence minister) on Tuesday.
The energy saving measures were announced on 3rd January. The Defence minister further added that there must be an immediate effect that include shutting down restaurants and wedding halls by 10pm . Some market representatives had pushed for longer shutting hours, but later was decided by that there is an urgent requirement of earlier closure.
Islamabad has some differences with the IMF upon a review. the agency is conducting of policy and the reforms that it is requiring in Pakistan. It was supposed to complete in November.
Khwaja Asif also mentioned that prime minister Shehbaaz Sharif had ordered that all government departments to reduce electricity consumption by 30%.He further added that the energy conservation strategy includes a ban on the production of inefficient light bulbs from February and fans from July.