ISLAMABAD: The federal government has announced a three-day weekend from Saturday to Monday in Islamabad to ensure security at the extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers.
Islamabad deputy commissioner Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat confirmed the development on Twitter. “Coming Monday and Saturday will be local holidays in Islamabad for schools and private offices,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Hiking trails in margalla will stay closed. Metro stations (Pak sect to Shaheed e milat sect) will stay closed till Monday,” the Islamabad deputy commissioner further announced while sharing a notification.
Coming Monday and Saturday will be local holiday in Islamabad for schools and private offices. Hiking trails in margalla will stay closed. Metro stations (Pak sect to Shaheed e milat sect) will stay closed till Monday.
— Muhammed Hamza Shafqaat (@hamzashafqaat) December 17, 2021
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has asserted that mobile services would not be suspended during the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit, except for some neighbourhoods.
Talking to journalists in the federal capital, the interior minister stated that the “historic” OIC summit on Afghanistan will be held in Parliament, and informed that security arrangements had been made with the assistance of the Pakistan Army and other security agencies.
However, he said that the interior ministry and chief commissioner of police have decided not to suspend mobile services in the city during the OIC Conference. He expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to those entering and exiting the Red Zone as a result of the security arrangements.
Sheikh Rashid said that the OIC conference would convene for the first time in 41 years under Prime Minister Imran Khan’s leadership. In relation to Afghanistan, the interior minister stated that the crisis is posing a humanitarian catastrophe. “The conference will play a meaningful role in resolving the crisis,” he added.
“90 foreign delegates arrived in Islamabad”
Talking to state-run APP today, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said at least 90 foreign delegates have arrived here to deliberate and find a way out of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
After reviewing arrangements for visiting dignitaries at the Islamabad International Airport, he asked the officials to ensure maximum facilitation to the guests, who are here to participate in the 17th session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The Foreign Minister was accompanied by Aftab Ahmed Khokhar, head of the reception committee and Ambassador of Pakistan to Austria. “It would be a wonderful event, he said and hoped that the arriving delegates during their stay would enjoy the pleasant weather of the federal capital,” Qureshi said.
“Saudi delegation arrived”
Saudi delegates reached Islamabad on Friday to attend the extraordinary session. A delegation comprising Saudi Arabia’s Afghan affairs department head Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Saud al-Kabir and Prince Jiluwi bin Turki arrived on Friday morning.
The delegates were received by Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al Malki and senior officials from the Foreign Office (FO). Among those who had arrived was Islamic Development Bank (IDB) President Dr Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Jasser, who was welcomed by the FO.
Pakistan warmly welcomes President @isdb_group H.E. Dr Muhammad Al-Jasser to attend the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC CFM. #OICInPakistan #OIC4Afg pic.twitter.com/45mciKAX6i
— Spokesperson ???????? MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) December 17, 2021
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha had also reached Islamabad on Thursday night to attend the summit. He was welcomed by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib.
