LAHORE – The Punjab government has withdrawn restrictions on closure timings for shops, markets and food outlets after reduction of smog intensity in the province.
The earlier office order “is hereby withdrawn to an extent of timing of shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, fast food chains, food outlets and exhibitions keeping in view recent improvement in air quality index”.
“The order shall come in force with immediate effect”, reads a notification issued by the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday.
Last month, the Punjab government directed closure of shops, markets and shopping malls in Lahore and other smog-hit districts by 8 pm.
The Punjab also restricted all outdoor activities including sports events, exhibitions and festivals, dining beyond 8 pm.
The restrictions include closure of all outdoor activities including outdoor sports events, exhibitions and festivals, outdoor dining of restaurants with the exemption of religious congregations, unavoidable religious rites including but not limited to the last rites, Namaz- e-Janaza, burial and related events.
The restrictions also included closure of shops, markets and shopping malls at 8 pm. However, pharmacies/medical stores, medical facilities, laboratories, vaccination centers, petrol pumps, oil depots, tandoors, bakeries, grocery/karyana stores, milk/dairy shops, sweet shops, vegetable/fruit shops, chicken/meat shops, e-commerce/postal/courier services and utility services (electricity, natural gas, internet, cellular networks/telecom are exempted from these restrictions.
Large departmental stores were allowed only to keep their grocery/pharmacy sections open.
