New Rules for markets/Marriage Halls Timings, To save Energy

As the circular debt in the energy sector goes up, the government is back to square one: it wants to inculcate the principle of “early to bed, early to rise” into a nocturnal nation, save daylight hours and expect billions in savings.

The national energy conservation plan, approved by the federal cabinet in its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, envisages drastic measures like the closure of markets and restaurants by 8pm, the work-from-home facility to 20 per cent of government employees, the introduction of electric motorbikes, efficient light bulbs and fans, the solarisation of government buildings, water conversation, rain harvesting, use of “conical baffle” devices in gas geysers, etc.

The cabinet decided that the emergency plan would be discussed with the provinces for two days — on Tuesday and Wednesday — and would be finalised on Thursday for implementation, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told a presser after the meeting