Royal couple arrive in Pakistan, accorded warm welcome

• The five-day visit, which will end on October 18, has been organised at the request of the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
• Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Islamabad, Lahore, Gilgit-Baltistan and rugged border regions to the west.

(Karachi) Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, arrived at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan Airbase on their first visit to Pakistan on Monday.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other senior officials accorded warm welcome to the royal couple at the airbase.

The five-day visit, which will end on October 18, has been organised at the request of the United Kingdom’s (UK) Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

During their time in Pakistan, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Islamabad, Lahore, Gilgit-Baltistan and rugged border regions to the west. The visit will span over 1,000 kilometers, and will take in Pakistan's rich culture, its diverse communities, and its beautiful landscapes.

The royal couple will meet Pakistan's president, prime minister and other officials during the visit. They will also visit programs aiming to empower young people and learn how communities are adapting to climate change.

The visit aims to strengthen diplomatic ties between the UK and Pakistan.