Iran president to arrive in Pakistan today, says FO

ISLAMABAD: Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi will travel to Islamabad on Monday to meet his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said, as the two countries seek to mend ties following deadly cross-border attacks this year.

The visit, which Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said would take place from Monday to Wednesday. It will be the first visit of any head of state after Pakistan’s general elections in February. Pakistan has signalled since January that Raisi would visit, and the prime minister said last week the visit would take place “very soon.”

Raisi will be accompanied by “a high-level delegation comprising the foreign minister... as well as a large business delegation,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

During his visit Raisi will meet Pakistan’s president and prime minister, the chairman of the Senate and speaker of the National Assembly, Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement. “They will also discuss regional and global developments and bilateral cooperation to combat the common threat of terrorism,” the statement said. Raisi will visit major cities including Lahore and Karachi and focus on bilateral and trade ties, according to the statement.

The countries will further strengthen ties and enhance cooperation in “trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people contacts,” it added.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Karachi on Sunday announced a public holiday on April 23 in the metropolis. A notification has been issued by the office of Karachi Commissioner announcing a public holiday on April 23 with all the public and private offices and schools will remain closed across the city.

According to the notification, the public holiday has been announced because of the arrival of foreign dignitaries.

Pakistan is counting on a joint gas project with Iran to solve a long-running power crisis that has sapped its economic growth.

A $7.5-billion Iran-pakistan gas pipeline intended to feed Pakistani power plants was inaugurated with great fanfare in March 2013.