Prince William and Kate leave after completing five-day trip to Pakistan - GulfToday

Prince William and Kate leave after completing five-day trip to Pakistan

Prince William and Catherine visit a 7-year-old Wafia Remain at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Lahore on Thursday. Reuters

Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate left Pakistan on Friday after visiting an army dog training school, a day after a severe thunderstorm forced them to change their schedule and stay the night in Lahore.

William Kate play cricket and tour historic mosque in Lahore

Prince William and wife Kate land in Pakistan capital after aborted flight

A planned visit to a Pakistani military post in the Khyber region on Friday morning was cancelled because of the change in their schedule, but the prince said learning about the security situation in the country was an objective of the visit.

Catherine pets a puppy as she visits an Army Canine Centre, where Britain provides support to a programme that trains dogs to identify explosive devices, in Islamabad. Reuters

"What happens here in Pakistan directly correlates to what happens on the streets of the UK," William told British media after he and Kate saw dogs that are trained to sniff out explosives.

Prince William and Kate visit picture-postcard Chitral

"We are involved with the Pakistanis for a very good reason, it will actually keep people safe back in the UK."

Prince William and Catherine play with golden labrador Polka as they visit an Army Canine Centre in Islamabad. Reuters 

An RAF Voyager carrying the royals aborted landings in Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi on Thursday because of severe turbulence during the thunderstorm.

The couple stayed at Lahore's Pearl Continental Hotel on Thursday evening, along with journalists, their staff and foreign ministry officials. The couple told reporters after returning to Lahore that they were "fine."

Catherine meets with Captain Aqeel of the Pakistan Army and Belgian Malinois dog Tutu. Reuters  

William and Kate have also highlighted education and the impact of climate change during their stay in Pakistan.

William and Catherine visit a patient at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Lahore. Reuters

Pakistan's government hopes the couple's five-day visit will help boost the country's image as a tourist and business destination, after decades of sectarian violence and political unrest.

Catherine and William walk with golden labrador puppies Salto and Sky in Islamabad. Reuters 

On Friday, a global money-laundering watchdog gave Pakistan until February to improve its counter-terror financing operations in line with an internationally agreed action plan, or face action.

Prince William and Catherine visit a 5-year-old Muhammed Sameer at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. Reuters 

"In terms of Pakistan's positive international image, the visit has been an unmitigated success," said Rifat Hussain, analyst and a former professor at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, though he said there had been some complaints from Pakistanis about the huge security operation around the trip.

 

Reuters

 

Related articles