Markets to Close at 8 PM Across Pakistan, National Energy Emergency

In a high-level consultative meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, April 2, 2026, the federal government and the leadership of all four provinces reached a “decision in principle” to enforce an 8:00 PM closure of all markets, bazaars, and business centers nationwide.

The move is part of an aggressive austerity and energy-saving campaign necessitated by the catastrophic fuel and energy crisis stemming from the ongoing U.S.-Iran war.

The “Sacrifice of the Elite”

The Prime Minister emphasized that the current regional war has placed an unprecedented economic burden on Pakistan. To protect the common man from the worst effects of inflation, several strategic shifts were announced:

• 8 PM Market Closure: To save electricity and fuel, all commercial activities must cease by 8:00 PM. The Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan will formally announce the implementation dates for their respective provinces.
• PSDP Cuts: The federal government has already slashed Rs 100 billion from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and absorbed a total burden of Rs 129 billion in just three weeks to prevent a total economic collapse.
• Priority Sectors: Essential funds are being redirected to protect the agricultural sector, public transport, and goods transport to ensure food security and the movement of basic necessities.

Diplomatic & Maritime Update: The “20-Ship” Corridor

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, briefed the leadership on the status of Pakistan’s energy lifelines:

• Strait of Hormuz Success: Due to successful mediation with both Tehran and Washington, two Pakistani-flagged tankers have already safely transited the blockade.
• Corridor Expansion: Diplomatic arrangements have been finalized to allow an additional 20 Pakistani ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, providing a critical boost to the country’s dwindling fuel reserves.
• China Mediation: Ishaq Dar updated the cabinet on his recent visit to China, where a joint Pak-China framework for a U.S.-Iran ceasefire was further refined.

Political Solidarity & Consensus

The meeting was notable for its rare display of total national unity, attended by:

• The Military: Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
• The Opposition/Allies: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari.
• Regional Leaders: Chief Ministers of all four provinces, the CM of Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Prime Minister of AJ&K.

The Prime Minister praised the collective efforts, noting that while the Rs 55 increase in petrol prices was a “huge economic burden,” the nation’s resilience and the government’s timely PSDP cuts have prevented a worse-case hyperinflationary spiral.

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