Authorities in Islamabad announced a public holiday for the federal capital on April 9 and 19 (Thursday and Friday) amid the expected visits from foreign delegations from the U.S. and Iran.
All schools and government offices will remain closed on these two days; however, essential services will continue to operate.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States, calling it a “sagacious gesture.”
He expressed his deepest gratitude to the leadership of both countries and extended an invitation to their delegations to visit Islamabad on Friday, April 10, 2026, to further negotiate a conclusive agreement aimed at resolving all disputes.
The premier expressed hope that the forthcoming ‘Islamabad Talks’ would lead to sustainable peace and conveyed optimism about sharing more positive developments in the near future.
This statement follows former US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, contingent upon Iran’s agreement to temporarily lift its blockade of oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage that handles approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil exports.
