ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrived here late Sunday night on their first visit to Pakistan amid tight security.

On arrival at the Chaklala Airbase the royal couple was received by Federal Minister for Women’s Development & Youth Affairs Sumaira Malik, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, UK High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mark Lyall Grant and senior officials.

From the airport the royal couple was driven off straight to the Punjab House where they will be lodging during their stay in the capital. Later, they will also be going to Peshawar, Lahore and visit an earthquake affected area.

Prince Charles’s first engagement on Monday morning will be a meeting with President Gen Pervez Musharraf. In the evening, the president will host a banquet in their honour.

This is the first royal visit from Britain since 1997 when the Queen and Prince Philip undertook a state visit to Pakistan.

Also, it is the first since Pakistan was readmitted to the Commonwealth in 2004.