ISLAMABAD, March 2 The government has cancelled the Pakistan Day parade.

A press release issued on Monday said On the directive of the Prime Minister, the Joint Services Parade on 23rd March, 2009 (Pakistan Day), will not be held as a measure of austerity drive. 

The Prime Minister has, however, directed to hold all the remaining functions/events as usual.

The Pakistan Day parade has been cancelled for the last many years because of security reasons. Jinnah Avenue, the venue of the parade, has been included in the 'red zone' after a spat of suicide attacks in the federal capital.

Moreover, construction work on an alternate parade ground near Faizabad has been stalled due to the contractor's refusal to continue because of lack of funding by the Capital Development Authority.