KARACHI: The Shahinshah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, has the distinction of being the first Head of State to visit Pakistan. Today, he will have another distinction of being the first Head of State to arrive directly in the interim capital. Other Heads of States or dignitaries have arrived first either in Karachi or Lahore.

This will be the Shahinshah’s fourth visit to this country. The last time he came here was early in 1960. At the time, he was accompanied by Queen Farah Pahlavi.

He is scheduled to land in his personal aircraft at the Chaklala Airport at about 4pm where President Ayub Khan will receive him and present his new Cabinet to him.

The Shahinshah will spend most of his three days in Murree. Accompanied by the President, the Shahinshah will proceed straight from the airport to Murree. He is scheduled to return to Rawalpindi the next morning after paying a brief visit to Nathiagali. In the interim capital, he will watch the National Assembly proceedings for about an hour, and after a quiet lunch with the President, will fly back to Teheran in the afternoon.

The Shahinshah will be accompanied by four or five members of his personal staff. No state official is accompanying him.

Apart from the statement that the Shahinshah is coming to Pakistan for talks with President Ayub Khan on matters of mutual interest and concern, no official comment on the proposed visit has been made. The Shah will hold formal talks with President Ayub in Murree on July 1, it was officially announced last night.— Special Representative