Iran’s President Raisi arrives to red carpet welcome in Islamabad

 ISLAMABAD : President of Iran Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi arrived here Monday on a three-day official visit till April 24, to meet the leadership and discuss the regional developments as well as bilateral cooperation.

This marks the first visit by any head of state to Pakistan after the general elections in February 2024. As the Iranian president landed at Nur Khan Airbase, a red carpet was rolled out to accord him a warm welcome. Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada received the guest.

Clad in traditional attires, two children presented bouquet of flowers to the dignitary, who is 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.

During the three-day visit, President Raisi will meet the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chairman of Senate and Speaker of National Assembly.

He will also visit Lahore and Karachi and meet with the provincial leadership. Commissioner Karachi has declared a public holiday on April 22 in anticipation of the foreign dignitary’s visit.

Besides discussing regional and global developments, the two sides will have a wide-ranging agenda to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran ties and enhance cooperation in diverse fields including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people contacts.

Iran’s news agency said that Raisi’s visit was taking place at the invitation of President Asif Ali Zardari. “President Raisi will visit several Pakistani cities to meet with a number of ulema, elites and business persons there. A visit to Lahore, the cultural heart of Pakistan, is also among the president’s plans,” it said.

According to Pakistani state-owned media, President Raisi will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and  there will also be a round of delegation level talks between the two countries. Upon arrival at the Prime Minister House, guard of honor will be presented to the visiting dignitary.

The Iranian president and PM Shehbaz will plant a sapling in the Prime Minister’s House on the occasion of Earth Day, it said, adding that they would also attend the signing ceremony of memorandums of understanding between the two countries for cooperation in various fields.

The two leaders will participate in a ceremony regarding naming a highway in Islamabad as Iran Avenue. They will also hold a press talk while the prime minister would also host a lunch for the Iranian president and his delegation.