Lahore: The restaurant and food service industry in Punjab has urged the provincial government to extend dine-in operating hours until midnight during the summer season, citing customer convenience and financial pressures on the sector.
According to the president of the Restaurants, Caterers, Sweets and Bakers Association, the request has been made to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz under the principle of allowing businesses to operate freely and support economic activity.
He stated that in summer, Maghrib prayers are typically held around 7:30pm, after which families usually begin dining out later in the evening. By the time customers reach restaurants, peak dining hours often fall between 8:30pm and 9:00pm.
However, under the current regulations, dine-in service is required to end at 10:00pm, while new customer entry is restricted after approximately 9:15pm. The association said this limits business activity during peak hours and causes inconvenience to families.
The industry representative added that the restaurant, hotel, catering, sweets, and bakery sectors are facing significant financial strain despite being a major source of employment and tax revenue. He noted that the sector supports millions of livelihoods, including waiters, kitchen staff, helpers, security personnel, and sanitation workers.
The association has therefore called for an extension of dine-in hours until midnight, arguing that the change would ease operational pressure, improve customer convenience, and help stabilize business activity during the summer period.
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