Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain has urged his nation not to observe Valentine's Day, denouncing the romantic holiday as a Western import.
"Valentine's Day has no connection with our culture and it should be avoided," Hussain told students at a ceremony celebrating a nationalist leader.
Hussain urged the young people to focus on their studies instead.
Despite its roots as a Christian holiday, Valentine's Day has gained popularity among Pakistanis, prompting hard-line Muslim clerics to call for a ban on the celebration.
The northwestern city of Peshawar, near the Afghan border, has reportedly banned Valentine's Day celebrations.
Authorities in the conservative northwestern Kohat district also instructed police to halt any celebrations of Valentine's Day.
Local media reported earlier in the week that Islamabad would outlaw the holiday as an "insult to Islam," but city officials later said such a ban could not be enforced.
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
Editor's Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
From Offshoot To 'Spearhead': The Rise Of IS-K, Islamic State's Afghanistan Branch
2Taliban Strongly Condemns Moscow Concert Hall Attack
3Pakistan's Campaign To Expel Millions Of Afghan Refugees Enters Second Phase
4Deadly Suicide Bombing Strikes Outside Bank In Kandahar As Taliban Employees Wait For Pay
5Could Taliban Canal Spark Water War In Central Asia?
6Facebook Restrictions The 'Last Nail In The Coffin' For Free Speech In Afghanistan
7Iran's Afghan Community Worried About Prospect Of War With Israel
8RFE/RL Freelance Journalist Attacked By Armed Men In Islamabad
9Chinese Investigators Arrive In Pakistan To Probe Suicide Attack That Killed 5 Of Its Nationals
10Flash Flooding Kills At Least 33 People In Kabul, Other Afghan Regions
Subscribe