The Punjab Environment Department has declared a easing in the operating hours of hotels, restaurants, and food outlets as smog strength across the province has reduced.
According to an official notification issued by the department, all hotels, restaurants, and food outlets are now permitted to remain open until 10pm. Dine-in, parking, and takeaway services will also be available during these hours.
However, there will be no time limits on home delivery services, it added.
The notice says the decision to revise the margins has been taken after better environmental conditions in Punjab due to rainfall and a shift in breeze direction. The restrictions initially imposed on November 15 have now been eased following the improvement in air quality.
The Environment Department has directed the district management to ensure the proper execution of the revised procedures while remaining to monitor environmental conditions.
Earlier today, the Punjab government allowed restaurants in Lahore and Multan to deliver food after 8pm in a bid to ease restrictions. A new notification confirmed that all restaurants, including hotels and fast food outlets, would be permitted to provide delivery services beyond the 8pm curfew.
However, it said, dine-in services would remain limited to a cut-off time of 4pm, with takeaway orders allowed until 8pm.
A few days ago, Punjab Senior Minister Mariam Aurangzeb announced a series of instant emergency measures in response to the worsening smog crisis in the province, including the declaration of a health emergency in Lahore and Multan.
The minister announced the following measures in view of the worsening smog in Lahore and other cities of Punjab:
- All brick kilns and furnace-based plants in Lahore and Multan have been shut down from Friday to curb emissions.
- There will be a complete ban on the entry of heavy traffic in both Lahore and Multan.
- A complete lockdown will be enforced on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday if the situation does not improve by Wednesday.
- Dining in at restaurants will be allowed only until 4pm, after which take-away services will be permitted. All restaurants will have to completely close at 8pm.
- Holidays in schools, colleges, and universities across Punjab have been extended to Nov 24, except Murree, and they have been ordered to shift to online learning.
- Construction activities in Lahore and Multan have been banned from Friday. However, national-level construction works will be allowed.
- Doctors, nurses and paramedical staff holidays have been cancelled, and hospital OPDs will now operate until 8pm.
