A bureaucratic language error prompted the federal government on Sunday to reissue the national mourning day notification in the wake of the Greece boat tragedy in which dozens of Pakistanis are reported to be missing.

The new notification which was issued a couple of hours after some internet users pointed out the mistake on social media. To this, journalist Shahbaz Rana pointed out that the issue has been addressed, and “appropriate language” was used in the new notification.

There were likely dozens of Pakistanis among those aboard the rusty trawler that sank off Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula on June 14, killing at least 78 people with hundreds more missing.

Old notification

“The prime minister, while expressing his grief on the tragic incident of a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Greece resulting in deaths of Pakistan’s citizens, is pleased to direct that Monday, the 19th of June, 2023 shall be observed as Day of Mourning. The national flag shall fly on half-mast,” it said.

New notification

“The prime minister, while expressing his grief on the tragic incident of a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Greece resulting in deaths of Pakistan’s citizens, has directed that Monday, the 19th of June, 2023 shall be observed as Day of Mourning. The National Flag of Pakistan shall fly on half-mast throughout the country on 19th June 2023,” it said.

The mistake drew mixed reactions on social media, with one of the users tried to explain the meaning of the word pleased.

Another user took a jibe at PM Shehbaz Sharif.

This user lambasted the government.

This user advised the premier not to repeat such mistakes in the future.