Indo-Pak WC tie: Pakistan declares half-day holiday

Islamabad, Mar 30: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced a half-day holiday on March 30 as Pakistan encounters India in a much-awaited World Cup semi-final clash in Mohali on Wednesday.

All the offices will close at 12:00 noon on Wednesday so that the people could watch the high voltage Indo-Pak cricket match, Geo TV quoted a press release issued by the Prime Minister House, as saying.

Gilani is going to visit India today to watch the highly anticipated Indo-Pak match on the invitation of his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh.

Expectations are high in the cricket-crazy region for a mouth-watering Indo-Pak encounter on Wednesday, and all things will come to a standstill at 2:30 pm in both countries as the semi-final between the two archrivals starts at Mohali.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has announced a public holiday in the province on March 30, The News reports.

However, the session of the Sindh Assembly would be held as per schedule on Wednesday from 9:00 am, said an official statement.

Earlier, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain had appealed to the concerned authorities to announce a public holiday on March 30, keeping in view the aspirations of the people about watching the semi-final.

India and Pakistan have not played in any bilateral series since the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008. The Pakistan cricketers have also not played in the Indian Premier League since its first edition in early 2008.

ANI