As Karachi prepares for the historic visit of Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, meticulous arrangements are underway to ensure security and facilitate smooth traffic flow across the city. The Karachi traffic police have unveiled a comprehensive traffic plan for April 23, coinciding with President Raisi’s arrival, aimed at minimizing disruptions and ensuring public safety.

Under the traffic plan, significant thoroughfares such as Club Road and Ziauddin Road will be sealed off for security reasons. Club Road will be inaccessible from PIDC to Metropole, while Ziauddin Road will close from Khajoor Chowk to PIDC, extending to a complete shutdown from the light signal to PIDC Chowk. In addition, traffic diversions will be implemented, redirecting vehicles from Sultanabad Road towards Khajoor Chowk and Aiwan-e-Sadr Road, and providing a left turn at Khajoor Chowk for traffic from Shaheen Complex towards Aiwan-e-Sadr Road.

President Raisi’s visit, the first by any foreign leader following Pakistan’s February 8 general elections, holds significant diplomatic importance. His itinerary includes meetings with top Pakistani leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, spanning across Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. In Karachi, President Raisi will engage with provincial leadership, meet Governor Kamran Tessori and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and pay homage at Quaid’s mausoleum before his scheduled departure for Tehran on Wednesday.

Acknowledging the heightened security requirements during the visit, Karachi authorities have declared April 23 a public holiday in the city. Consequently, several markets, including Karim Centre and the Mobile Market on Abdullah Haroon Road, will remain closed, contributing to the overall security measures implemented to ensure the smooth execution of President Raisi’s visit.