Egyptian President Dr Muhammad Morsi is visiting Pakistan on March 18, as the head of a high-powered delegation at the invitation of President Asif Zardari.
President Morsi is the first civilian, democratically and freely-elected Egyptian president to visit Pakistan. The last bilateral visit was by late Gamal Abdel Nasser in the 1960s.
Morsi’s visit to Islamabad is being seen as a watershed and a landmark in the traditional and friendly relations between the two large and important Muslim countries.
The Egyptian president’s decision to choose Pakistan as the first South Asian country for a bilateral visit manifests Egypt’s desire to add a new chapter to its bilateral ties with Pakistan. His engagements would include one-on-one meeting with President Zardari, followed by delegation level talks and banquet/luncheon hosted by the president. The two leaders are expected to hold extensive discussions on all areas of bilateral relations including regional and international issues of mutual interest.
They would also be signing a number of agreements. Morsi’s visit is expected to impart dynamism to the bilateral ties and to expand, diversify and strengthen relations between the two countries in all spheres.
On arrival at Noor Khan Airbase, President Morsi would be welcomed by a 21-gun salute and at the Presidency.
