Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday announced a half working day for the Pakistan and India semi-final clash on March 30 (Wednesday).

Interior Minister Rehman Malik made the announcement on behalf of Gilani and said that all government offices and institutions will close at 12pm.

Gilani, accompanied by several politicians and federal ministers, will watch the match Mohali on the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

According to a media release from the Prime Minister House, Gilani has invited heads of parliamentary parties to accompany him to watch the semi-final match at Mohali.

These include Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PMl-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Farooq Sattar, Abdul Qadir Baloch, Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam’s (JUI) Laeeq Ahmad Khan and Parliamentary leader for FATA Munir Orakzai.

Besides party leaders, several federal ministers will also be part of the delegation. They include Federal Minister for Sports and SAFRON Engineer Shaukat Ullah, Information Minister Firdaus Ashiq Awan, Religious Affairs Minister Khurshid Shah, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and former ministers, Qamar Zaman Kaira and Sherry Rehman.