KP govt withdraws orders for early market closure

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government withdrew its orders for early market and business closure on Saturday, almost six weeks after their issuance due to the rising oil prices amid the US-Iran war.

A public notice issued from the chief secretary’s office said with the approval of competent authority, implementation of the prescribed market, commercial business closure timings is hereby suspended until further orders.

“However, all citizens, commercial establishments, markets, plazas, marriage halls, restaurants and public sector offices are requested to continue observing electricity conservation measures, particularly avoidance of unnecessary and decorative lighting, prudent use of air conditioning and other non-essential electricity consumption, in the larger public interest,” it said.

The notice, which comes into effect immediately, also stated provincial government appreciated the cooperation extended by the public, business community and all stakeholders towards responsible energy use and national resource conservation.

Traders welcome move, say stakeholders should be consulted on matters affecting their businesses

At the start of April, the KP government had ordered closure of markets, shopping plazas, commercial establishments and night-time sports activities in divisional headquarters by 9pm, while markets, shopping plazas and commercial establishments in other districts were ordered to close by 8pm.

On Friday, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also spoke to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi regarding easing the restrictions on market closure.

A statement issued from the Governor’s House said that Mr Kundi had asked the chief minister to ease the restrictions on market openings on the pattern of Punjab.

According to it, Mr Kundi has also proposed to give exemption to shops, markets, shopping and malls from observing the timing restrictions.

Chief Minister Afridi agreed with Mr Kundi’s suggestions. The statement quoted Mr Kundi saying the easing the restrictions on market closures would help minimise traders’ financial losses.

He also said that the providing relief to people should be the top priority of the government and revival of business activities would also boost the province’s economy.

Mr Kundi said that he was aware of KP traders and government should take steps for their early resolution.

President of KP Tanzeem Tajaran Malik Mehr Elahi welcomed the suspension of timing restrictions on markets and commercial activities.

He, however, said that government should consult all stakeholders while deciding matters affecting their businesses.

Mr Elahi said that timing restrictions were imposed without taking the traders community in confidence.

He said that suspension of timing restriction was the biggest demand of the traders from all over the country.

The trader leader said that on May 14, traders had protested all over the country, demanding ending of the restrictions and it was heartening their appeals were heard by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

He said that that earlier, the Punjab government had announce to end the timing restriction which the KP has also followed now.

Mr Elahi said that after the timing restriction were introduced, traders were subjected to heavy fines by the district administrations all over the province and traders were fined up to Rs30,000 for violating the closure timings.

He said that some traders were also arrested and spent nights in lockups at the hand of overeager officers.

The trader leader said the traders had their reservations over government push to install point of sale machines at their shops as it would require them to hire trained persons to run these machines.

He said that they could not pay people to keep these machines running.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2026