ISLAMABAD, Oct 28: Prince Charles of Britain and Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker will arrive here on Sunday for a week-long visit that will be marked by a veil of security.
During their stay in Pakistan, the royal couple will also visit Peshawar and Lahore.
Also on the cards is a visit to one of the areas affected by last year’s earthquake and a madressah, besides laying a wreath at the tomb of Allama Iqbal.
Prince Charles will deliver a speech at Edwards College in Peshawar.
In Islamabad, Prince Charles will, among other things, see President Pervez Musharraf, who will host a banquet for him and the Duchess of Cornwall. Also on the agenda is a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who will host a youth event in line with the youth-related activities that the Prince of Wales is associated with in the United Kingdom.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Dr Maleeha Lodhi will also arrive on Sunday to join part of the royal trip.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will also visit Pakistan in the second half of November.
Iftikhar A. Khan adds: The Prince of Wales is likely to raise the issue of Tahir Hussain Mirza, a British national sentenced to death on murder charge, though British diplomats say the specific themes of the visit will be inter-faith harmony, education, youth entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
Mr Hussain was to be hanged on Nov 1 but his sentence was put off for two months amidst reports in the British press that Prince Charles might have to pull out of his planned visit unless the execution was postponed.
In Lahore, Prince Charles will attend an inter-faith meeting hosted by Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool.
Sources in the British high commission said the visit aimed at supporting the partnership and highlighting the shared heritage and community links between the two nations.
