Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said Olympic Champion of Javelin throw Arshad Nadeem will be given heroic welcome in Islamabad.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad this afternoon, he said a special aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force will bring Arshad Nadeem, his family, parents and coach from Multan airport. He said Arshad Nadeem will be given VVIP reception as a state guest.

The Minister said a committee of federal ministers will receive the national hero at the Noor Khan airbase this evening. He said state protocol will be accorded to Arshad Nadeem during his visit to Islamabad and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will host a banquet in honour of the national hero. He added proceedings of the banquet will be broadcast as live. Besides, a musical event will be arranged during which artistes will present patriotic songs.

Attaullah Tarar said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been directed to make a biopic on the struggle and life of Arshad Nadeem so that younger generation can get inspiration from his achievements earned through consistent hard work and passion. 

He said Arshad Nadeem and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will jointly hoist national flag at the central ceremony in Islamabad to mark the Independence Day tomorrow.

The Minister for Information and Broadcasting further said an e-visa policy is going to be launched from midnight under which 126 countries have been exempted from visa fee with a simplified visa process. He said visa will be issued to these countries on a simple online form, which can be filled out within ten minutes. He said as soon as an applicant clicks the “OK” button after filling out the form, the next moment visa will be issued on his mobile phone. He added that citizens of Gulf countries would get visa on arrival.

Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan is now opening to the world for business and tourism and this policy is aimed at attracting investors and tourists from across the globe. He said religious tourism has also been covered under this new visa regime, which includes visit of Sikh Yatrees to Pakistan.

Regarding the preparation for Independence Day, the Minister said mega events and musical evenings are being organized across Pakistan to mark the celebrations. He said a grand event is being organized at Islamabad’s F-9 Park on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. A musical concert and fireworks are the hallmarks of the festivities. He said a drone show of five hundred drones will be presented, carving Quaid-e-Azam’s portrait, story and flag of Pakistan in the sky above the F-9 Park.

Attaullah Tarar said this function has exclusively been kept apolitical and there will be no picture of any politician, including him. He said it will be entirely a public event, where families have been invited to enjoy the festivities of the Independence Day. He said these activities will be synchronized with the celebrations in Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, and Lahore.