Authorities in Islamabad have declared a two-day public holiday on Thursday and Friday, April 9 and 10, closing all government offices in the federal capital during this period. However, essential services will continue to operate to ensure public convenience and minimize disruptions.
The Islamabad Capital Territory administration, Capital Development Authority, and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad will maintain their regular functions. Similarly, law enforcement agencies, including Islamabad Police, along with utility providers such as the power distributor IESCO, Sui gas company, and hospitals, will remain fully operational throughout the holiday.
This decision to exempt critical services from the holiday closures aims to guarantee the availability of necessary facilities for residents during the break.
In a significant development, the announcement coincides with the arrival of Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and US Vice President JD Vance, who are expected to lead their respective delegations in high-stakes talks scheduled for Friday in Islamabad. These discussions come amid a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, presenting a narrow opportunity for diplomatic engagement.
Ghalibaf will head the Iranian negotiating team, while Vance is set to represent the United States, marking a rare instance of direct high-level dialogue after weeks of escalating tensions.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently held a warm and cordial telephone conversation lasting over 45 minutes. Their discussion focused on the ceasefire, the upcoming negotiations, and broader regional developments.
Notably, the Pakistani premier formally extended an offer to host the Iran-US negotiations in Islamabad this week, an invitation that Iran has accepted, underscoring Pakistan’s role as a mediator in this delicate diplomatic process.
