HP Newsroom

At a press conference held on April 27, 2026, at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Secretary General Lahore Restaurant Association Ahmad Shafiq called for an immediate one-hour extension in restaurant operating hours, urging the Punjab government to revise the current closure policy.

He stated that the existing early closing restrictions are harming the restaurant sector, weakening investor confidence, and slowing down business activity across the hospitality industry. According to him, repeated timing restrictions are putting pressure on both large and small restaurant operators, leading to reduced revenues and limited growth opportunities.

Ahmad Shafiq stressed that restaurants are an important part of the economy, social fabric, and employment structure. He said that limiting operating hours is directly affecting jobs, service delivery, and overall business stability.

He urged the Government of Punjab to adopt a consultative approach with stakeholders and immediately allow restaurants to operate until 11PM on weekdays and 12 midnight on weekends, saying this one-hour extension is essential for the recovery and sustainability of the sector.