Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has delayed his visit to Pakistan by a day owing to the Israel-Palestine conflict, said the foreign office on Tuesday.
The Egyptian leader was supposed to reach Islamabad on Thursday for the D-8 summit but owing to the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinians, he decided to reschedule his trip to Islamabad for Friday.
“At the invitation of the President of Pakistan, the President of Egypt, Dr. Mohamed Morsi, will visit Islamabad immediately after the D-8 Summit, on November 23, 2012,” said a foreign office statement.
“The last state visit was made by the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser in the 1960’s,” it said. “A visit by President Morsi, the first civilian, democratically elected President of Egypt will be a landmark in the traditional and friendly relations between the two Muslim countries”. “The visit is the manifestation of the two countries’ desire to add a new and dynamic chapter to their relationship by expanding, diversifying and strengthening bilateral cooperation in all spheres,” the statement said.
President Morsi’s engagements in Islamabad would include an address to a joint session of the Parliament and a meeting with the President, followed by a luncheon at the Presidency. On his arrival, President Morsi will be welcomed by a guard of honour and a welcome ceremony will be held for him at the Presidency.