The Sindh government has announced that it will require markets to close much earlier than is normal.

All bazaars and shopping malls will be closed at 9 pm today.

Wedding halls, restaurants and coffee shops will have to close at 11pm, said the notification.

Permission has been granted to keep petrol pumps, medical stores, bakeries and dairy shops open.

The decision will be effective for one month from today, the Sindh Home Department said.

Pakistan has been battling an energy and balance of payments crisis with its dollar reserves dwindling. The IMF has been putting on pressure to rein in subsidies that make petrol and electricity cheaper. The federal government has announced its own measures to cut costs, which included slowly removing the subsidy on fuel. While unpopular, these decisions have been essential to keep the IMF happy as its conditions for a bailout must be met.