The Ministry of Economy has revealed that they will be announcing the regions in Addu City in which shops will be allowed to operate round the clock, within the ongoing week.

The ministry on Monday announced that they will be opening a window for interested business owners to seek approval, after said regions are announced.

When allocating neighborhoods and regions, the ministry will be looking into the population of the region as well as neighborhoods with bigger market places.

Initially, the ministry had opened for interested individuals in Addu to forward their requests on 28 February.

Shops and businesses will only be allowed to operate round the clock if they are well-lit and have surveillance cameras in their establishment. The establishment is also required to place a 24/7 board in an easily visible spot.

Earlier, the ministry had granted approval to 14 businesses to operate 24/7.

While allowing round the clock shops and cafés was part of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s first-100-day pledges, it was also allowed during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration.

As such, in December 2010, Nasheed had granted approval for wholesalers and retailers as well as local cafés and restaurants to be kept open 24 hours. However, Dr. Mohamed Waheed had renounced this decision after the downfall of Nasheed’s government in 2012.