Authorities in Islamabad have announced a sudden two-day local holiday starting Thursday, April 9, 2026. The decision comes ahead of scheduled talks between the United States and Iran to be held in the Pakistani capital on Friday, April 10. The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon through a notice posted on X. Essential services including MCI, CDA, ICT administration, ICT police, IESCO, SNGPL, and hospitals will remain operational during the holiday.

The official notification did not specify a reason for the closure. However, Islamabad authorities have previously imposed holidays or restrictions before major diplomatic events for security reasons. The upcoming meeting will see Pakistan acting as a mediator between the US and Iran.

According to the White House, US Vice President JD Vance will lead the American delegation in the discussions. The talks are considered significant given the involvement of high-level representatives from both countries.