Restaurants, marriage halls and cafes will remain closed for next five days in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, officials said on Thursday.
The decision applicable from October 12 to 16 was made in light of security steps being taken taken ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The SCO meeting is scheduled for October 15-16.
The federal government has already announced a three-day public holiday —October 14-16 — in the twin cities to ensure the smooth conduct of the SCO summit.
Pakistan became a member of SCO in June 2017 and from 2005 to 2017, it enjoyed the status of SCO Observer State. Islamabad’s association with SCO is relatively new, but its association with SCO Member States is longstanding.
In his capacity as the current chair of Council of Heads of Government (CHG), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair the upcoming CHG Meeting.
