High Commission for Pakistan has decided to skip the National Day Receiving Dinner on 23rd March in New Delhi because of Covid-19 precautions. 23rd of March is observed across as Pakistan's National Day.
However, Sources have told ABP News that the Morning Ritual of National Flag hoisting and the ceremonial speech by the Acting high commissioner will be held at the Pakistan high commission.
It is worth noting that both Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and Indian High Commission in Islamabad do not have full fledged High Commissioners posted at respective missions.
National Day Ceremonial Receiving Dinner at the High Commission for Pakistan has been an yearly feature on every 23rd March so far, which has always been much in talks also for the invites to the Hurriyat leaders in past years.
Government of India also sent a representative minister to this annual reception, however this was reduced to a Senior official level participation on couple of occasions considering severing of ties in past.
At a time when both India and Pakistan leadership are making just the right noises towards normalizing relations once again, there was considerable excitement in diplomatic circles this time to see who would have represented Government of India for the reception but the High Commission this time dropped the idea of hosting one.
Sources told ABP News that is has been decided so because of the prevailing Covid situation considering which most of the missions of other countries have also not held their such receptions.