Islamabad, March 18: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Tuesday evening that Pakistan will scale down Pakistan Day celebrations in response to the ongoing Gulf oil crisis. The Pakistan Day Parade and associated ceremonial events scheduled for March 23 will not be held, and the day will be observed with a simple flag‑hoisting ceremony “at appropriate levels,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
The statement said the move aligns with broader austerity measures the government has adopted in light of the oil crisis. An Urdu note from the PMO reiterated the decision, stating that March 23 events would not be held and that the day would be marked with dignity and a simple flag‑raising.
Pakistan Day traditionally features a military parade on March 23 to commemorate the 1940 Lahore Resolution that called for a separate homeland for Muslims of British-ruled India.
The decision comes as Pakistan’s economy feels the strain of disruptions in West Asia and the Gulf. Several provincial and federal measures have been introduced to conserve resources. In early March, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced steps “to protect the public and manage resources responsibly,” including suspending official fuel supply for provincial ministers; cutting petrol and diesel allowances for government vehicles by 50%; implementing a work‑from‑home policy for government offices; and closing schools, colleges and universities from March 10 to March 31. She also suspended all government outdoor events, postponing cultural festivals such as the Horse and Cattle Show.
Fuel prices have surged, with petrol and diesel seeing increases of PKR 55 per litre. Pakistan is also confronting household gas shortages after liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments from Qatar were suspended, a disruption attributed to conflict involving Iran that has affected maritime LNG routes. The shortages have hit households during the critical Sehri and Iftar hours, complicating meal preparation and daily routines for many families, Dawn reported.
The aviation sector is facing mounting pressure as rising fuel costs ripple through commercial operations and pilot training. Aviation gasoline (avgas) used by training aircraft is produced at limited global locations and is typically imported in shipments of 16,000–24,000 litres or in 200‑litre drums. The cost of avgas has climbed to about Rs 670 per litre, threatening flying school operations and pilot training continuity, The Express Tribune reported.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb warned earlier in March that Pakistan’s monthly oil import bill could surge to as much as USD 600 million amid the deteriorating security situation in West Asia. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the government would seek relief from the International Monetary Fund on the petroleum levy. (ANI)
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