Power crisis: Punjab government decides to cease commercial activities after sunset

In the wake of National Energy Conference the Punjab government on Tuesday took major decisions to conserve energy so as to reduce burden of massive load shedding on masses. In a major decision the provincial government decided to close down business centers and shops after sunset.
Furthermore, it was decided that air-conditioners in government offices will not be switched on before 11 am while only 50 percent of lights will be used during working hours. Only one out of three streetlights will be turned on in the province and all streetlights will be switched off early in the morning.
Traders Community of Lahore has shown mixed reaction on the announcement made by Commissioner Lahore that owing to the ongoing power crisis, the Lahore administration has decided to close all trade centers of the city at sunset and wedding halls at 9pm on daily basis.
While talking to Business Recorder Chairman Anjuman-e-Tajiran Lahore and President Urdu Bazar Traders Khalid Pervez has said that they will only support the decision if the shops and commercial plazas in all the posh localities such as Model Town, Cantt, Gulberg, Defence will be closed down by sunset and government will ensure the implementation of order in these top class localities.
He also said it is very difficult for the traders to close the shops before 8'0 clock. Traders community were already up against problems due to power crisis and economic slump in the country, Pervez added.
President PML (N) Traders Wing Babar Mahmood and President Mall Road Traders Wing Naeem Mir have said that the delegation of PML (N) traders wing will meet Chief Minister Shahbaz Shaif on Wednesday at 90 Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam to discuss the problems of traders including imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) and closure of shops at sunset.
Regarding the decision of the closure of shops at sun set he said that if the public accepts this decision, then the traders will also accept it. President Qaumi Tajir Ittehad Punjab Khwaja Azhar Gulshan has said that they will not support the decision of closure of shops at sunset. However, he said that they will support the nine point agenda given by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif to save electricity. He also said that if the government tries to close the shops forcefully they would resist any attempt in this regard.