The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration on 1 June reimposed early closure orders for commercial establishments across the capital, directing markets and shopping malls to shut by 8 pm as part of energy conservation measures linked to fuel price increases and supply constraints stemming from the conflict in West Asia, according to local media reports. The directive marks a fresh tightening of business hours as Pakistan grapples with mounting energy pressures.

What the New Orders Cover

Under the orders that took effect on 1 June, all major markets and shopping centres in Islamabad are required to close by 8 pm. Restaurants, food outlets, grocery shops, bakeries, and fruit and vegetable stores have been given a slightly extended window, with a mandatory closure time of 10 pm. Wedding halls, lawns, and marquees are also required to shut by 10 pm.

Essential services remain exempt from the restrictions. Pharmacies, hospitals, medical stores, petrol pumps, and CNG stations will continue to operate on their normal schedules, according to reports citing Geo News.

Why the Government Acted

Officials cited the need to reduce energy consumption and streamline commercial activity during peak demand hours. The move follows a series of relaxations and adjustments to business hours over recent months as the government attempts to balance economic activity with energy-saving targets. This latest directive represents a reversal of some of those earlier concessions, reflecting the worsening supply situation.

The broader context is a sharp escalation in fuel costs. The Pakistani government recently raised petrol prices by PKR 14.92 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices by PKR 15 per litre, bringing revised rates to PKR 414.78 per litre for petrol and PKR 414.58 per litre for HSD, according to the Petroleum Division's press release.

Rights Body Condemns Fuel Price Hike

Earlier in May, the Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan strongly condemned the petroleum price increase, calling it a 'direct assault' on the public. The HRC warned that rising fuel costs cascade across the entire economy, driving up prices of flour, lentils, vegetables, milk, and medicines.

'This increase is not merely a change in numbers but a direct assault on the daily lives of millions of poor, working-class, and middle-class families. For the people already crushed under the burdens of inflation, unemployment, and low income, this decision is intolerable,' the HRC stated.

The body specifically flagged the impact on rickshaw drivers, daily wage labourers, transport workers, students, and the white-collar class, noting that the economic burden was compounding into 'severe mental stress, helplessness, and fear of the future.'

What the HRC Demanded

The rights body called on Pakistani authorities to immediately reverse the petroleum price hike and provide urgent relief by reducing what it described as unnecessary privileges enjoyed by the elite class. It also demanded an end to arbitrary increases in transport fares and essential commodity prices, urging the government to prioritise 'human compassion and public hardships' in its economic decisions.

'Human rights are not confined to speeches and resolutions. They are the fundamental right of every citizen to live a dignified and secure life,' the HRC noted.

With energy constraints showing no signs of easing, further adjustments to commercial hours in Islamabad and potentially other Pakistani cities cannot be ruled out in the weeks ahead.