ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: President General Pervez Musharraf will leave for Canada next month on an official visit, informed sources told Dawn on Friday.

The sources said the president would proceed to Canada from New York on Sept 25 after attending the UN General Assembly session there.

“The president will most probably hold talks with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on Sept 26,” the sources said.

This would be President Pervez Musharraf’s first official visit to Canada, a senior official told Dawn .

Pakistan was recently told through diplomatic channels that the Canadian prime minister would be available to receive the president next month. Earlier, the Canadian government had indicated that the prime minister might not be available at that time.

“But we have been told now that the prime minister has found time,” officials said.