The Islamabad administration has announceda local holiday for two days on July 31 and August 1 to expedite stringent security measures being taken on the visit of Chinese deputy prime minister to Pakistan.

Chinese Deputy Premier He Lifeng is visiting the country on July 31 to sign various MoUs. He will be meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior government officials.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had extended an invitation of visit to Lifeng.

The authorities are implementing elaborate security measures on his arrival, placing some restrictions on movement.

The capital city administration in a letter to the Ministry of Interior proposed that July 31 and August 1 be declared local holidays.

The final decision was made by the interior ministry which approved the prosposal.

Business community rejects announcement of holidays

While this allowed office worker to enjoy an extended weekend, local businesses are opposing the plan with traders demanding that they should be allowed to open shops.

The traders have refused to close businesses in Islamabad on July 31 and August 1 during the upcoming visit of Chinese deputy prime minister to Pakistan.

President of All Pakistan Trade Union Ajmal Baloch called the holidays an unnecessary measure, saying that the traders cannot afford closing shops for another two days after the Muharram holidays.

He said that the additional holidays will not only affect the traders, but also daily-wagers that are dependent on the business of the traders.

Baloch demanded the authorities to take the notification back and ensure the continuity of economic activities in the capital city amid the visit of the foreign dignitaries.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson also confirmed that Special Representative of President Xi Jinping and Vice Premier of the State Council He Lifeng would travel to Pakistan to attend the event and meet with the leaders of Pakistan.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by President Xi Jinping, and also the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“Over the past decade, as an important pioneering project of the BRI, CPEC has achieved fruitful results and become a new benchmark for the friendship between China and Pakistan. To mark the 10th anniversary of the launch of CPEC, the Pakistani government will hold a grand celebration event in the country’s capital Islamabad,” said the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

China has hoped that the visit would be an opportunity for both sides to jointly implement the “important consensus” between leaders of the two countries, “renew the traditional friendship, build on past achievements and upgrade the development of CPEC”

It would further help them deepen the China-Pakistan strategic cooperative partnership, advance the building of an “even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era and contribute to the development and prosperity of the region and beyond”.