Overview
- The federal government approved the withdrawal of fuel conservation and additional austerity measures introduced after March 9, a decision Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed on Friday that ends restrictions such as a 50 percent cut in fuel for government vehicles.
- Cabinet Division notifications keep market and shop closing rules in place, requiring most retail outlets to close by 9:00 p.m., wedding venues by 10:00 p.m., and restaurants by 11:00 p.m. with takeaways and home delivery exempt.
- The Motorway Police restored previous speed limits on motorways and national highways, returning cars to 120 km/h and heavy vehicles and buses to 110 km/h.
- Punjab’s government issued a separate notification withdrawing post‑March energy‑saving curbs in the province while also preserving the June market operating hours and listing the same sector exemptions.
- The federal notice preserves austerity measures that pre‑date March 9, specifies exemptions for hospitals, pharmacies, fuel and EV stations, IT firms and delivery services, and keeps salaries and allowances for MPs and officials unchanged, a move that eases daily life for drivers and businesses but keeps targeted limits to curb peak energy use.