ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will observe its National Day on March 23 will simplicity this year, the country’s deputy prime minister said on Thursday, referring to an ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Pakistan’s subsequent austerity measures.

On March 23 each year, Pakistanis commemorate the adoption of the historical Pakistan Resolution at the 27th annual meeting of the All-India Muslim League, through which Muslims of the Sub-continent demanded a separate homeland for themselves in 1940.

But this year, the day comes at a time of a raging conflict in the Middle East, where United States and Israel have been pounding Iran since Feb. 28, while Tehran has launched counterattacks against US bases in Gulf countries as well as commercial and oil infrastructure. The crisis has impacted Pakistan among several countries.

In a post on X, Pakistani Deputy PM Ishaq Dar said this year’s National Day would be observed with simplicity at all Pakistani missions abroad and will be limited to the traditional flag-hoisting ceremony only.

“In the light of Prime Minister’s announced austerity measures, and as a mark of solidarity with the countries and peoples of the Middle East and the wider region affected by the ongoing conflict and the tragic loss of innocent lives, National Day receptions will not be held this year,” he said.

The ongoing conflict has disrupted global oil supply, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit chokepoint between Iran and Oman, with oil prices surging past $100.

This week, PM Shehbaz Sharif announced a series of austerity steps, including a four‑day work week for government offices, requiring 50  percent of staff to work from home, cutting fuel allowances for official vehicles by half, grounding up to 60  percent of the government fleet and closing all schools for two weeks to conserve fuel amid the global oil crisis. 

The measures came in response to global oil market volatility triggered by the Middle East conflict. 

“Pakistan hopes that dialogue and diplomacy will prevail, and that peace, stability and prosperity will soon return to the entire region and beyond,” Dar added.