Kate, William to visit Pak next week

Prince William and Kate Middleton will visit Pakistan from October 14 to October 18, the first royal visit to the country in 13 years, where the couple will also meet the nation's top leadership, according to a media report.

According to Pakistan's Foreign Office sources, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 37, will visit Pakistan on a four-day official trip from October 14 - 18.

The royal couple will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi on October 15 and after meeting them, they will go to Lahore on October 16, arriving a day later in Chitral, Geo news quoted foreign sources as saying.

The royal couple, after the completion of their tour to Pakistan, will return to Britain on October 18, sources said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday said that Pakistan is awaiting to welcome the royal couple.

Qureshi met with UK High Commissioner Thomas Drew on Friday, where he made the statement regarding the royal couple's visit to Pakistan.

The trip will mark Kate and William''s first visit to Pakistan, which is a member of the Commonwealth, but not the first by the members of the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth II visited Pakistan twice in 1961 and 1997. Her first visit took place at the height of the Cold War when Pakistan was very close to the western world.

Later, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Pakistan in 2006.