To tackle the ongoing economic crisis and promote energy conservation, the Pakistani government has enforced the closure of all commercial markets across the country by 8:00 PM.
Pakistan government Implements Nationwide Energy Conservation Plan by Closing Commercial Markets at 8:00 PM. Read more.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal made this announcement on Tuesday, highlighting the unanimous agreement reached by federal and provincial authorities regarding implementing the energy conservation plan.
The decision was made during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, which was presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the capital city of Islamabad.
Minister Iqbal emphasized the participation of the chief ministers of Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as the planning minister of Balochistan, during the NEC meeting. This collective involvement of provincial government representatives underlines their commitment to adopting measures to preserve vital resources.
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The initiative is projected to yield potential annual savings of approximately $1 billion, contributing to enhanced economic stability.
The planning minister underscored Pakistan’s significant challenges in the energy realm. In response, the government aims to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and imported oil, prioritizing energy conservation.
Promoting renewable energy sources in Pakistan such as solar, hydel, and wind power will assume a central role in this endeavour. Furthermore, the government has refrained from introducing new projects that rely on fuel imports.
It is worth noting that a similar energy conservation plan received approval from the federal government in January. The previous plan called for closing markets and malls by 8:30 PM, alongside a ban on the use of inefficient appliances, with estimated annual savings of approximately Rs62 billion.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also directed all federal government sectors to reduce electricity consumption by 30%.
While previous measures were not universally implemented, the latest step to close markets at 8:00 PM exemplifies the government’s determination to prioritize energy conservation and bolster financial stability.
Through the collective adoption of these measures, Pakistan aims to reduce its energy import expenditure and alleviate the economic burden on the nation.
