Pakistan has announced a ban on New Year's Eve celebrations, a decision aimed at showing solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
According to News.com.au, this announcement was made by the government late Thursday, marking a shift from the usual festive celebrations to a more somber observance.
Prime Minister's Address to the Nation
Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, in a televised address to the nation, explained the rationale behind this decision. He highlighted the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, where Israel's aerial bombardment and ground invasion, a response to Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, have caused widespread destruction and loss of life.
The Prime Minister emphasized the deep sadness felt by the Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah over the genocide of oppressed Palestinians, particularly the massacre of innocent children in Gaza and the West Bank.
Traditions Altered
New Year's Eve in Pakistan is typically a time of celebration, marked by fireworks, aerial gunfire, and a bank holiday on January 1.
However, this year, the government's decision calls for the observance of simplicity instead of traditional festivities.
In a similar move, Sharjah, an emirate of the United Arab Emirates, also banned New Year's Eve fireworks over the war in Gaza. Sharjah police described the ban as "a sincere expression of solidarity and humanitarian cooperation with our siblings in the Gaza Strip," in a Facebook post.
