The Department of Services and General Administration has proclaimed April 23 a public holiday in advance of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Lahore.
To help the general public and commuters during President Raisi’s visit, Punjab has decided to declare Tuesday, April 23, as a public holiday in Lahore, following the example set by the Sindh government.
The foreign ministry stated in a statement that the Iranian president was traveling with his spouse and a high-level delegation, which also comprised senior officials, the foreign minister, and other members of the cabinet.
On April 23, President Raisi is expected in Lahore for a meeting with representatives of the Punjab administration. President Raisi is in the federal capital of Islamabad for a three-day official visit, and the city has tightened security in anticipation of his arrival.
President Raisi is visiting Pakistan with the intention of fortifying relations with Iran. He is accompanied by his spouse and a high-level group that includes the foreign minister and other cabinet officials.
President Raisi is scheduled to visit Lahore and Karachi while in the country, as well as have meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other government representatives.
Major roads in Islamabad have been temporarily closed as part of security precautions due to the importance of the visit.
Notably, the Sindh government also proclaimed April 23 to be a public holiday in the Karachi division in order to facilitate the presence of foreign guests, including President Raisi.
Both Pakistan and Iran have expressed a desire to deepen bilateral ties, and the visit is considered as a key step in normalizing relations between the two countries.