The Higher Education Commission has banned Holi celebrations across all educational institutes saying that such activities portray a complete disconnect from the country’s sociocultural values and are an erosion of the country’s Islamic identity.

The move comes after pictures and videos from their Holi celebration went viral at the Quaid-I-Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad went viral on social media earlier this month.

In the notification, HEC mentioned that students are forbidden to follow this festival in order to adhere to “sociocultural values.”

“While there is no denying the fact that cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity leads towards an inclusive and tolerant society, that profoundly respects all faiths and creeds; albeit it needs to be done so in a measured manner without going overboard. The students need to be apprised to be aware of the self-serving vested interests who use them for their own ends far from the altruistic critical thinking paradigm.”

The event, touted as the “biggest Holi celebration in Pakistan,” drew both praise and criticism from various quarters.