ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday announced that it would not hold the Pakistan Day parade and related ceremonial events this year due to “austerity measures” linked to the ongoing Gulf crisis.
Pakistan Day, observed annually on March 23 as a public holiday, is traditionally marked by parades, military flypasts, and cultural events across the country. However, in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, it was stated that “in the backdrop of the ongoing Gulf oil crisis and the consequent austerity measures announced by the government, it has been decided that the Pakistan Day Parade and associated ceremonial events shall not be held” this Monday.
Instead, the day will be observed with dignity and reverence through a simple flag-hoisting ceremony, the statement added.
The decision has been taken in line with broader belt-tightening measures announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week, which include reducing the working week for government employees to four days, implementing work-from-home policies, and temporarily closing schools to conserve fuel.
On the PM’s advice, President Asif Zardari has approved the summary to cancel the Pakistan Day Parade and all related ceremonies scheduled for March 23. Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting to review the implementation of fuel conservation and austerity measures. During the meeting, he directed the minister for petroleum to further enhance efforts to improve Pakistan’s petroleum import supply chain, according to a statement issued by the PM Office.
The prime minister stressed that all relevant institutions should remain prepared to implement emergency measures until the situation improves. The meeting was informed that directives issued by the government were being implemented effectively, with all agencies working in close coordination.
Officials briefed the meeting that the situation was being closely monitored and records of petroleum products were being maintained to detect any irregularities without delay. It was further shared that sufficient stocks of petroleum products were currently available in the country to meet local requirements.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant Tariq Bajwa, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, and other senior officials.
The meeting was also informed that adequate stocks of medicines were available in the country to meet national requirements. Additionally, special connectivity arrangements had been put in place by the ministry of information technology and telecommunication to facilitate e-office systems for government employees working from home.
Earlier, a separate review meeting chaired by the finance minister noted that existing stock levels and scheduled imports indicated that the country had comfortable inventories of crude oil and key petroleum products for March, with sufficient planning in place to ensure continued availability through April. In another development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, congratulating him on the success of the constitutional referendum held in Kazakhstan on March 15. The prime minister said the strong public support for the new Constitution reflected the people’s confidence in President Tokayev’s leadership and reform agenda.
Recalling President Tokayev’s recent visit to Pakistan, the prime minister said both sides were actively following up on decisions taken during the visit and would soon finalize proposed MoUs and agreements. President Tokayev reiterated his invitation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to visit Kazakhstan later this year, which was accepted.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional developments, particularly the situation in Afghanistan, and emphasized the importance of dialogue, cooperation, and connectivity for shared prosperity. The prime minister also extended warm greetings to the leadership and people of Kazakhstan on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Separately, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) announced that it would not hold a central gathering this year to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on April 4. Instead, the event will be observed at the district level across the country.
PPP Secretary General Humayun Khan said the decision was taken on the directive of party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in view of the prevailing regional situation. He added that local chapters would organize Quran recitations to pay tribute to the party’s founder while ensuring public safety.
Meanwhile, in the United Arab Emirates, another Pakistani national was killed in Abu Dhabi after debris from an intercepted ballistic missile fell in the Baniyas area, according to local authorities. The incident occurred despite air defence systems successfully intercepting the missile.
Officials said the latest fatality has brought the total number of deaths in recent attacks on the UAE to seven, including at least three Pakistani nationals. Pakistan’s Embassy in the UAE expressed deep sorrow over the incident and said it was in close coordination with local authorities to support the bereaved family and facilitate the repatriation process.
