Web Desk: The district administrations of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have declared a two-day public holiday on April 9 and 10 to facilitate the high-stakes direct negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Hassan Waqar Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon issued separate notifications on Wednesday, confirming that all public and private offices and educational institutions will remain closed on Thursday and Friday. This administrative measure aims to ensure seamless security and logistical arrangements as international delegations arrive in the twin cities.
According to the federal notification, essential services including hospitals, police, and utility providers like IESCO and SNGPL will continue to function without interruption. Furthermore, federal government officials and secretariat staff must remain in the capital to work from home, as the government has prohibited official travel outside the city during this period.
In preparation for the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif plans to chair a high-level cabinet meeting to brief coalition partners on the progress of the mediation efforts. Following this session, the Prime Minister will meet with President Asif Ali Zardari to review Pakistan’s strategic role in brokering the regional peace deal.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources indicate that the Iranian and American delegations will begin formal face-to-face talks on Friday, April 10. These discussions represent the first direct diplomatic engagement between the two adversaries since the conflict began earlier this year.
Consequently, residents in the twin cities are adjusting to the sudden closure. While government offices pause routine operations, the capital has transformed into a high-security diplomatic hub. Security experts and advance teams from both Washington and Tehran have already established a presence in Islamabad to coordinate the weekend’s agenda.
Looking ahead, the success of the Islamabad talks hinges on these two days of intense diplomacy. Both sides must navigate complex issues regarding the Strait of Hormuz and regional security to transition the current temporary ceasefire into a permanent settlement.
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