LAHORE: After Sindh government, Punjab has declared a public holiday in Lahore on Tuesday, April 23, to facilitate the general public and commuters amid the visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
Raisi will arrive in Lahore on April 23 and hold meetings with the Punjab government officials.
Iran’s President Raisi arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a three-day official visit, announced the foreign office, amidst stringent security measures in the federal capital.
The visit, which the FO said would run until Wednesday, comes as the two neighbours seek to mend ties after unprecedented tit-for-tat strikes this year.
“The Iranian president is accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation,” the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the group also included the foreign minister, other cabinet members and senior officials.
During his inaugural day in Pakistan, Raisi engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and various dignitaries. Additionally, he plans to visit Lahore and Karachi in the coming days., it added.
Major highways in the federal capital were blocked as part of the security measures for Raisi’s visit, which is a key step towards normalising ties with Islamabad.
The Sindh government has announced a public holiday on April 23 (Tuesday) in the Karachi division. This decision aims to prevent any inconvenience to the general populace, especially considering the visit of foreign dignitaries, including the President of Iran, to Pakistan.
The FO said that the Iranian president would undertake an official visit to Pakistan from April 22 (Monday) to April 24 (Wednesday).
“The Iranian president will be accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation comprising the foreign minister and other members of the cabinet, senior officials as well as a large business delegation,” the FO said.
“He will also visit Lahore and Karachi and meet with the provincial leadership,” the FO statement added.
