By IANS,
Karachi: Carrying placards reading “Welcome to Pakistan’s daughter-in-law”, hundreds of fans gathered outside the Jinnah International Airport as newlyweds Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza arrived here Thursday.
The couple were welcomed by Sindh Sports Minister Mohammad Ali Shah and other government officials.
“It feels great to have arrived here in Pakistan,” Online news agency quoted Sania as saying on her first visit to this southern port city.
Shoaib said the couple will stay in Pakistan for one week.
They will fly to Islamabad, where they would be treated as state guests, to arrange Sania’s visa for Sialkot, Shoaib’s hometown, where a reception is planned for April 25.
They are expected to meet top officials in Islamabad, including Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal.
Sania’s mother is accompanying the couple. It is expected that the Indian guests will start arriving in Pakistan in the next day or two to attend the Valima reception.
Another reception will be held in Lahore two days later, family sources said. Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is also expected to hold a reception in the couple’s honour later this month.