Government calls off Pakistan Day Parade amid coronavirus fears

ISLAMABAD: The government decided to cancel the Pakistan Day Parade during the National Security Committee’s meeting on Friday, as the country reported new cases of coronavirus.
The parade was scheduled to take place on March 23 to commemorate the Lahore Resolution that was adopted on the same day in 1940 and laid the foundation of a Muslim-majority state in South Asia.
The event that is held annually in full media glare is attended by high-profile officials and foreign dignitaries, including Pakistan’s president, prime minister, cabinet ministers, services chiefs and members of the diplomatic community.
It also allows the country’s armed forces to display their war readiness and weapons systems.
This year, a 50-member contingent of Saudi land forces was also scheduled to participate in the celebrations.
The NSC meeting, which was attended by the services and intelligence chiefs along with chief ministers and top advisers, took other preventive measures as well to minimize the possibility of the spread of virus.
The Pakistan Day Parade was also called off in the past while the country was fighting the threat of religious militancy.