Pakistan Day parade called off under austerity drive

President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the cancellation of the Pakistan Day military parade and related celebrations scheduled for March 23. The decision was taken on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and has been linked to current economic pressures and a broader austerity approach.

Dunya News reported that the Presidency framed the move as part of a need for careful management of national resources during a difficult period. The cancellation comes as the government weighs financial discipline alongside the effects of wider regional instability and energy-related concerns.

Officials also confirmed that the national awards investiture ceremony, which is traditionally held on Pakistan Day, will now take place on April 28. The decision gives this year’s commemoration a distinctly restrained character compared with its usual ceremonial scale.