Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon dismissed a widely circulated notification claiming that all public and private offices in Islamabad and Rawalpindi would remain closed from April 20 until further notice. He emphasized that no such decision has been made and confirmed that educational institutions in Islamabad will remain open on Monday.
In a statement on X, he urged the public to avoid spreading unverified or misleading information and to rely solely on official government sources for accurate updates. He requested citizens to refrain from sharing fake news and to follow the district administration’s official channels for authentic information.
Meanwhile, a late-night notification from the Cabinet Division announced that all ministries, divisions, and federal government offices located in Islamabad’s Red Zone would operate on a work-from-home basis on April 20. The notice instructed all officers and secretarial staff to remain on standby and be ready to report to the office at short notice.
Additionally, the Islamabad district magistrate issued a separate notification suspending entry into the Red Zone on April 20. It suggested that public and private offices, along with schools in the area, may adopt work-from-home arrangements to avoid inconvenience. Police confirmed that the Red Zone has been closed to traffic as the capital prepares for the arrival of possible foreign delegations, with alternative routes established. Public and heavy transport in Islamabad has also been suspended until further instructions are provided.
In Rawalpindi, the district administration has suspended all public and goods transport starting from Sunday noon until further notice.
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump announced that his envoys would arrive in Islamabad on Monday evening, a day before a two-week ceasefire is set to expire. The delegation is expected to be led by Vice President JD Vance, who previously headed the initial peace talks, and will include Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner. However, Trump later contradicted this by stating that Vance would not be part of the delegation.
Pakistan, acting as the primary mediator, appears to be preparing extensively for the talks. Two large US C-17 cargo planes landed at an airbase on Sunday afternoon, transporting security equipment and vehicles in anticipation of the delegation’s arrival. Authorities in Islamabad have halted public transport and heavy goods traffic as security measures intensify. Barbed wire has been installed near the Serena Hotel, the venue for last week’s negotiations, which has also asked all guests to vacate the premises.
