8pm shut-shop order more a rights issue

Though the federal government has announced the measure as a way to cut down on electricity deficit, the provincial government has another law in place that bars opening markets and shops past 8pm. Another aspect of opening shops beyond 8pm is quite conveniently overlooked. Tens of thousands of poor salesmen are forced to work in odd hours and mostly for the same meager wages.PEPCO has offered the traders uninterrupted power supply during the day if they agree to shut markets after 8pm. However, the traders and shopkeepers are of the view that there is a growing trend of shopping at night, and if the federal decision was adhered to, they would end up losing the better part of their business.The Shop and Establishment Ordinance 1969 prohibits opening shops past 8pm and offers a penalty of Rs 500 and a three-month imprisonment for violations. No province has so far applied this ordinance.The federal government shut-shop order will only save up 2 per cent of the 14,000MW required. The political parties may be objecting to the federal decision for point scoring, but the issue is more important in terms of rights of workers than a way to save electricity.