Observer Report
Islamabad
Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton will pay an official visit to Pakistan from October 14-18, the Kensington Palace announced on Friday.
Before their visit, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend a special event at the Aga Khan Centre in London on Oct 2, which will be hosted by The Aga Khan.
William and Kate’s visit to Pakistan was first announced in late June. It is the first royal trip to the country in more than a decade. The royal couple’s visit, requested by Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, shows London’s renewed interest in Pakistan.
Pakistan had welcomed the announcement of the visit, with its ambassador to Britain Nafees Zakaria tweeting: “Upcoming Royal visit reflects the importance UK attaches to Pakistan. Both countries enjoy historical links and wish to strengthen them further.”
The visit comes 13 years after Charles and Camilla — the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwell — toured the country in 2006. But Pakistan still vividly remembers the late Princess Diana’s visit in 1996. She travelled to Islamabad, scenic northern areas and Lahore, where she was welcomed by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, the current prime minister.
Diana also attended a fundraising event of his Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital. Britain is home to more than a million people of Pakistani origin, making it the largest Pakistani diaspora in Europe.
