Public holiday declared in Lahore on Iranian president's visit today

• President Ebrahim Raisi is on three-day visit to Pakistan.
• Foreign minister, cabinet members, officials also in delegation.
  
• Raisi's reconciliatory visit comes after Iran's 'response' to Israel.
  

LAHORE: After Sindh government, Punjab has also announced a public holiday in Lahore today (Tuesday, April 23) for the convenience of the general public and commuters during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's visit.

Raisi will arrive in Lahore on April 23 and hold meetings with the Punjab government officials.

Iranian president Raisi landed in Islamabad on Monday on a three-day official visit, the foreign office said, amid tight security 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.

On his first day in Pakistan, Raisi held meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials, while he will also go Lahore and Karachi, 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.

It must be noted that the Sindh government also declared a public holiday on April 23 (Tuesday) in the Karachi division to “avoid inconvenience to the general public” as foreign dignitaries, including the Iranian president are visiting 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.