The Movenpick Hotel in Karachi would remain under the government’s control for three days from April 22 to April 24 as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi makes his maiden visit to Pakistan on Monday, the management said on Sunday.
In a notice, the hotel administration added that all bookings during the abovementioned dates have been cancelled and all the shops in the hotel would remain closed.
The decision comes hours after the city’s administration announced a public holiday on Tuesday in view of the visit of foreign dignitaries and to avoid inconvenience to the general public.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi would visit Pakistan from Monday to Wednesday, the Foreign Office said earlier in the day.
On Saturday, Iran’s Ambassador Dr Reza Amiri Moghaddam and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi discussed arrangements for the Iranian president’s visit.
The two officials deliberated upon the details of visit during a meeting in Islamabad.
Naqvi said the Iranian president’s visit was “very important” in the regional context. “The visit will be a milestone in the development of bilateral relations,” he said, “we have to work together to end the menace of terrorism and overcome other challenges.”
In the recent past, Pakistan has seen an uptick in terrorist incidents where foreigners have also been targeted.
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Last week, a statement from the Corps Commanders Conference mentioned how terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan pose a threat to regional and global security, besides acting as proxies against Pakistan and its economic interests, especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, who presided over the conference, appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Army and LEAs in thwarting several terrorist attacks and neutralising key terrorist commanders during ongoing counterterrorism operations. He directed commanders to “pro-actively deny any space” to the terrorists.
