Iran President arrives in Karachi

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan, arrives in Karachi where, Governor Sindh Kamran Tesori received him at airport

Apart from the governor, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Aseefa Bhutto, Azra Pechuho, Sharjeel Memon, and Nasir Shah were also present at the airport.

This marks the first visit by a foreign head of state since the new government assumed power after the February 8 elections.

President Raisi’s itinerary includes a visit to the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, where he paid homage to the revered leader.

Furthermore, he is slated to receive an honorary doctorate from the Governor of Sindh, and meetings with various dignitaries are scheduled at the Governor’s House.

GTV correspondent during a drive through the port city saw a flood of banners, posters and buntings inscribed with slogans welcoming the Iranian president to the metropolis.

Specially, banners with welcome messages by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the Iranian president are also put up on the Shahrah-e-Faisal.

“I am very happy that a leader of Ummah will be with us today,” a Karachi University student Mehdi Ali told this scribe early Tuesday.  He is our hero for what he had done for the Ummah. Today, we see Iran as a sole voice for Gazans. The country proved by attacking enemy Israel, he continued.

The commissioner of Karachi has announced a public holiday in the port city today due to the arrival of Iranian president and his delegation.

“It’s good that Pakistan and Iran are coming closer and I especially appreciate Iranian president’s wish to enhance bilateral to $10 billion. Both the countries need to improve their economies and together they can achieve this goal,” says Hamza Khan relaxing in a bench after early morning jogging at city’s Polo Ground.

All private and government offices and educational institutions are closed in Karachi Division.

At several points the city administration was seen busy in blocking roads for security purpose ahead of Raisi’s visit.