Lahore Restaurant Association (LRA) President Nisar Chaudhry has expressed serious concerns over what he termed the growing employment crisis emerging from the prevailing restaurant timing restrictions. He stated that reduced operating hours have significantly impacted business activity, forcing many establishments to downsize their workforce, with the greatest burden falling on daily wage earners, waitstaff, and kitchen employees who depend heavily on evening peak hours for their livelihood.

He cautioned that if the current policy continues, it could lead to further job losses across the hospitality sector, intensifying socio-economic pressure on already vulnerable households. Nisar Chaudhry emphasized that the hospitality industry remains one of the largest employment-generating sectors in Pakistan, and any sustained contraction in business activity directly threatens thousands of jobs linked to it.

He also criticized what he described as the lack of practical rationale behind the 10PM closure policy, arguing that it offers no meaningful advantage to the government. According to him, the restriction does not result in significant energy savings, as a large portion of operational and infrastructural costs remain unchanged regardless of early closures.

In addition, he raised concerns regarding enforcement practices, alleging that certain regulatory actions disproportionately target branded establishments, calling for more uniform and transparent implementation of rules across the sector.

Concluding his remarks, he urged policymakers to revisit the current timings and proposed a revised schedule of 11PM on weekdays and 12 midnight on weekends, stressing that such an adjustment is essential for protecting livelihoods, sustaining employment, and stabilizing the broader hospitality workforce.