Islamabad, March 18 — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Tuesday that Pakistan will scale back Pakistan Day observances in response to the ongoing Gulf oil crisis. The traditional Pakistan Day parade and related ceremonial events slated for March 23 have been canceled; the government said the day will be observed with a modest flag‑hoisting ceremony “at appropriate levels,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. An Urdu note from the PMO reiterated the cancellation and said the anniversary would be marked with dignity and simplicity.
Pakistan Day, held each March 23, normally includes a military parade that commemorates the 1940 Lahore Resolution. The decision to curtail festivities is part of wider austerity steps the government has taken to conserve resources amid disruptions across West Asia and the Gulf that are straining the national economy.
Authorities at both federal and provincial levels have introduced measures to reduce fuel use and public expenditure. In early March, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced several measures aimed at protecting the public and managing resources, including suspending official fuel supplies for provincial ministers, cutting petrol and diesel allowances for government vehicles by 50 percent, implementing work‑from‑home arrangements for government offices, and closing schools, colleges and universities from March 10 to March 31. She also suspended government outdoor events and postponed cultural gatherings such as the Horse and Cattle Show.
Fuel prices have surged, with petrol and diesel jumping by about PKR 55 per litre. Pakistan is also coping with household gas shortages after liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments from Qatar were suspended. The disruption — attributed to conflict involving Iran that has affected maritime LNG routes — has hit families during Sehri and Iftar hours, complicating meal preparation and daily routines, local reporting said.
The aviation sector is feeling the impact as rising fuel costs increase operating expenses for commercial carriers and jeopardize pilot training. Aviation gasoline (avgas), used by training aircraft and produced at relatively few global facilities, is typically imported in shipments of 16,000–24,000 litres or in 200‑litre drums. The price of avgas has climbed to around Rs 670 per litre, threatening the viability of flying schools and continuity of training programs.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb warned earlier in March that Pakistan’s monthly oil import bill could rise to as much as USD 600 million if the security situation in West Asia deteriorates further. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the government will seek relief from the International Monetary Fund on the petroleum levy to help ease the burden.
This report is based on a syndicated feed (ANI) and has been published as received.
