By IANS,
Chandigarh : Hoping to better ties between the two countries, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani arrived here Wednesday to watch the high-voltage World Cup cricket semifinal between India and Pakistan in nearby Mohali.
The Pakistan Air Force flight carrying Gilani and his delegation landed at the Chandigarh airport around 12.25 pm. Gilani, who is here at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was received by union Minister of State for Communications Sachin Pilot.
The match will be played at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in Mohali, 10 km from here.
Camera crews jostled for attention as Gilani, casually dressed in a blue coat, light green shirt and grey trousers, walked into the arrival lounge of the airport’s technical area.
Unprecedented security arrangements had been made around the airport for the Pakistan prime minister’s arrival.
Gilani and his delegation will have lunch at the Taj hotel, where he will be staying, before going to the stadium.
He will then go to the PCA stadium, where he will be received formally by Manmohan Singh. Both leaders will then watch the match together.
The leaders accompanying Gilani on the trip are PML-Q chief Shujaat Hussain, MQM leader Farooq Sattar and ANP’s Asfandyar Wali, reported Geo TV.
Other politicians who are the part of the 45-member delegation include Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar.