Markets will close at 9 p.m., wedding halls at 10 p.m. and restaurants at 11 p.m.; official fuel use will be cut by 50 percent, foreign trips banned and new government vehicles prohibited under a notification.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 17th Sep, 2026) The federal government has issued a notification introducing a nationwide strict austerity drive to address the severe economic impact of continuously rising petroleum product prices.
According to details, the emergency national plan will initially remain in force for 3 months.
It aims to significantly reduce electricity, fuel and government expenditure by restricting commercial operating hours and immediately curbing several official facilities and privileges. All shops, markets and shopping malls across the country will close at 9 p.m., while wedding halls and all other commercial activities must end by 10 p.m.
The federal government’s notification directs all hotels, restaurants and cafes to close at 11 p.m.
However, takeaway and home-delivery services will be exempt from the restriction. Furthermore, only one dish will be allowed at wedding ceremonies to prevent unnecessary expenditure.
Pharmacies, medical laboratories, clinics, hospitals, tandoors and petrol pumps have been fully exempted from all these restrictions in view of public convenience.
The government has also taken major decisions to substantially reduce official expenditure.
Under the measures, 50 percent of government vehicles will be grounded, while fuel allocations for official vehicles will be cut by 50 percent. However, the armed forces, civil armed forces, law-enforcement agencies, other essential services and operational vehicles of the Federal board of Revenue will be exempt from the fuel reduction.
In addition, the non-ERE budget for fiscal year 2026/27 will be reduced by 5 percent.
The purchase of all types of new government vehicles, as well as IT equipment and other durable goods, has been completely banned. To reduce wasteful expenditure and travel costs, all official foreign trips will be prohibited for the next 3 months.
In unavoidable circumstances, ministers, advisers and government officials travelling abroad will be allowed to fly only in economy class.
Government meetings have been directed to be held preferably through video conferencing.
Seminars, training programmes, conferences and dinners funded by the government will be completely prohibited, except for projects or dinners hosted in honour of foreign delegations. Only government auditoriums and committee rooms will be used for unavoidable official events.
