Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday that it was agreed during a National Economic Council (NEC) to close markets and commercial centres by 8pm from July 1 to conserve energy.
“The provinces have agreed to implement this decision from July 1,” he said while speaking to reporters after concluding a press conference in Islamabad where he shared decisions taken during the meeting of the NEC — the country’s highest forum of the federation on economic decision-making —earlier today.
The NEC meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and approved estimated budget figures.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), provincial governments were urged at the meeting to implement the energy conservation plan that had already been approved by the federal cabinet.