Austerity Drive Enforced: Markets to Shut at 9pm, Restaurants at 11pm, Official Trips and Events Banned, 50% Government Vehicles to Be Grounded – Notification Issued

ISLAMABAD (Qudrat Daily) – In view of rising petroleum product prices, the federal government has issued a notification for an austerity drive.

According to the notification, the austerity drive will remain in effect for a period of three months.

Shops, markets, and shopping malls will be closed by 9pm. Similarly, marriage halls and other commercial activities will be permitted until 10pm, while all hotels, restaurants, and cafes will be closed by 11pm.

Takeaway and home delivery services will be exempt from the fixed 11pm closure, while it has been decided that only one dish will be served at marriage-related events.

According to Jang, pharmacies, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, bakeries (tandoors), and petrol pumps will be exempt from these restrictions.

There will be a complete ban on the purchase of all durable goods, except for IT equipment.

A complete ban has been imposed on foreign official visits and travel for three months. In case of unavoidable foreign visits, ministers, advisers, and government officers will travel in economy class.

Government meetings have been directed to be held preferably via video conferencing.

Hosting official dinners will be banned, while dinners hosted in honor of foreign delegations will be exempt.

Government-funded official seminars, training programs, and conferences will also be banned. For unavoidable official events, the use of government auditoriums and committee rooms has been directed.

Fifty percent of government vehicles will be grounded, while a 50 percent reduction in fuel supply for government vehicles has also been decided.

Vehicles of the armed forces, civil armed forces, and law enforcement agencies will be exempt from the fuel reduction, while essential services and FBR operational vehicles will also be exempt from the fuel cut.

A 5 percent reduction has been decided in the non-ERE budget for fiscal year 2026-27. A complete ban has also been imposed on the purchase of all types of new vehicles.