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Following the installation of time limitations aimed at conserving energy and decreasing power failures, the Govt has decided to shut down all commercial activity in Lahore on Sundays, with the exception of emergency and vital services.

"All commercial marketplaces, plazas, shops including retail and wholesale, shopping malls, bakers, confectionaries, offices, storage rooms, godowns, warehouses, etc. in Lahore would be closed on Sunday," said Deputy Commissioner Lahore Omer Sher Chatha in a notification.

The economic and industrial community will be notified of the current decision, according to the notification.

After obtaining clarity from the Punjab Workers and Human Resource Department, the local government issued the notice.

In response to the development, Abdul Razaq Babbar, General Secretary of the All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran, remarked that the business community had no reservations about the closure on Sundays.

However, he said that such limits would encourage corruption, citing the fact that police officials accepted payments from dealers and retailers in exchange for allowing them to open their doors during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Muhammad Asif, another vendor, pointed out that tiny stores in the neighborhood and streets are open on Sundays. "We get stronger sales on Saturdays and Sundays since most offices are closed and people go shopping," he explained.

The Lahore assistant secretary had issued a notification the day before ordering all marketplaces, retail malls, and business centres to close by 9 p.m., except on Saturdays.

The aforementioned prohibition does not apply to medical drug stores, hospitals, labs, milk shops, gas stations, highway service zones, or tyre repair businesses.

Special teams comprised of officials from the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) and other agencies were also formed by the district administration to shut all commercial activity in the city at the notified time.

Local administrations and police teams have been observed working hard to ensure that the government"s decision is followed to the letter.

To avoid legal action, the deputy commissioner has urged citizens to collaborate with the administration and close their business at the appointed time.