Has Govt Announced Public Holidays in Islamabad for SCO Summit?

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Islamabad has debunked a fake notification circulating on social media, which falsely claimed public holidays and restrictions in the city ahead of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

The fake notice, allegedly from the District Magistrate, suggested October 16, 17, and 18 as public holidays, alongside restrictions on public gatherings. In a tweet, the DC clarified that the notification was false and urged citizens to ignore it.

Notification regarding public holidays in Islamabad being circulated on social media & other platforms is FAKE… pic.twitter.com/EH75UqKSaE

— DC Islamabad (@dcislamabad) October 7, 2024

It should be noted that the cabinet division has issued an official notification for holidays on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of October. Here’s the notification:

The federal government has officially deployed Pakistan Army personnel in Islamabad to ensure security during the summit, scheduled for October 15 and 16. The deployment, effective from October 5 to 17, aims to maintain law and order during the event and the visits of VVIP delegations.

The SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting will see prominent foreign leaders, including Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, attending. A comprehensive security plan has been approved to safeguard the event.