The PM is to fly into Washington in a couple of days on what is being billed as official working visit to the US. There are five different categories of official visits of the world leaders to the US. Washington treats visit to the US of the presidents and monarchs of the guest countries as state visit. The sojourn to America of the heads of government is billed as official official. There are other categories of such visits also like official working visit, working visit and private visit.
Different types of protocol have been prescribed for these visits. The guest on a state visit is lodged in the President’s guest room nearby the White House known as Blair House for four days and three nights. He is given a banquet by the American president and a 21-gun salute on arrival at the White House. Almost the same treatment is given to the head of government who is on official visit to the US. The protocol to the guest on a official working visit, working visit and private visit, however, is lesser than the one reserved for state and official visits.
In the past only President Ayub and Zia-ul-Haque had been on state visits to the US while Mr Bhutto and Benazir had been there at different times on official visits to Washington. Nawaz Sharif had also visited the US a couple of times on official working visits.
The eyes of the political observers are fixed on the forthcoming visit to the US of the PM. It will be a litmus test for ascertaining his political acumen , sagacity and intelligence. Let us hope he would prove himself equal to the task. Needless to say ZA Bhutto had left a very good impression on the then American president , media and intelligentsia during the course of his visit to the US in 1973.
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