The Islamabad district administration on Wednesday extended the closing time for grocery and general stores by one hour, allowing them to remain open until 11pm as part of revised business-hour notifications issued under the federal government's austerity plan.

According to the notification, shops, markets, shopping malls and restaurants in the capital will continue to operate within the curtailed schedule, but kiryana outlets have been granted additional time after complaints from residents about late-evening shopping needs.

Officials said the revision aims to balance energy conservation targets agreed with the IMF and the routine of working families in the federal capital, where commercial activity peaks in the late evening.

Traders' associations welcomed the move but called for a uniform policy across Rawalpindi and Islamabad, saying split timings between the twin cities continue to confuse customers and depress sales at sector markets including F-10, G-9 and Aabpara.