Austerity Drive:Islamabad Markets, Malls Ordered to Close by 9pm 

ISLAMABAD -UNS: The federal government has introduced wide-ranging austerity and energy-conservation measures in Islamabad amid rising fuel prices and growing concerns over disruptions to global energy supplies.
Under the newly issued notification, shops, markets, bazaars, shopping malls, departmental stores and grocery outlets across the federal capital must close by 9pm throughout the week.
Marriage halls, marquees and other venues hosting festive events will be required to close by 10pm, while restaurants, cafés and food outlets must cease dine-in operations by 11pm. Takeaway and home-delivery services will remain exempt. The government has also restricted marriage functions to a single dish.
Hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, medical laboratories, bakeries, tandoors, dairy shops, fuel stations, CNG pumps, electric-vehicle charging stations, gyms, sports facilities, IT companies and call centres will not be subject to the closing-time restrictions.
The measures are initially limited to Islamabad, although provincial and regional governments have been encouraged to adopt similar energy-saving steps.
As part of the austerity programme, fuel allocations for official vehicles have been reduced by 50% for three months. Foreign travel by government officials and the purchase of vehicles and durable goods have also been prohibited for the same period.
Operational vehicles used by the Armed Forces, Civil Armed Forces, law-enforcement agencies, essential services and the Federal Board of Revenue will remain exempt from the fuel reduction. However, their administrative and non-operational formations will be covered by the cut.
The government has also ordered a 5% reduction in non-essential recurring expenditure for the 2026–27 fiscal year, while development projects will remain exempt.
The announcement comes as petrol prices have risen to Rs391.22 per litre and high-speed diesel to Rs421.45 per litre following renewed instability in the Middle East and concerns over energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.