The day has finally arrived. Prince William and Kate Middleton are expected to arrive in Pakistan Monday night and extensive security arrangements have been made for their visit.
According to The Telegraph, more than 1,000 police officers will be deployed to ensure foolproof security to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Details of the five-day trip, described as “the most complex” by Kensington Palace, have also been kept under wraps. Officials privy to the matter have said their itinerary will be tightly guarded by the military, with local media being informed of details at the last minute.
The goal of such detailed arrangements is “to secure the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as Pakistan hopes the visit can repair the country’s image.”
Kensington Palace in a statement, earlier this month, had shared that the royal couple’s trip “will range from the modern, leafy capital of Islamabad to the vibrant city of Lahore, the mountainous countryside in the North, and the rugged border regions to the West.”
The royal couple is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi on October 15 after which they will visit Lahore and Chitral.
Meanwhile, UK envoy Thomas Drew has said that the royal couple’s visit would show Pakistan as “a forward-looking country”.
In a video message on Twitter, Drew said, “Most importantly, they hope to meet as many Pakistanis as possible during the course of the visit. They are looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the people of Pakistan.”
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while speaking on the royal visit said: “This is a goodwill visit, and they want to promote good relations between Pakistan, England and our new generation.”
Kate and William’s visit to the Commonwealth’s second-most-populous country was announced in June and planned at the request of Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It will be the first trip to Pakistan by members of the royal family since Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, travelled there in 2006.
