main in place from today until further directives, they said. The Cabinet Division also said in a notification that all ministries, divisions and other federal government establishments located in Islamabad’s Red Zone should adopt a work-from-home arrangement on April 20. “All officers and secretarial staff shall remain at the station and be prepared to attend office when required at a short notice,” the notification said.

Similarly, a notification by the Islamabad district magistrate said that entry into Red Zone would remain suspended on April 20, and in view of the development, all public and private offices and schools in the area “may adopt a work-from-home arrangement on the said date in order to avoid any inconvenience”. Public and heavy transport have also been suspended in Islamabad until further orders, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Nawaz Memon said. The Rawalpindi district administration also suspended all public and goods transport from Sunday noon till the next directives.

While the police statement did not specify which delegations are expected, the move comes as Islamabad gears up for a possible second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran. Advance teams have also started arriving in Islamabad, sources told Dawn. The teams landed at the Nur Khan Airbase, they said.

Dignitaries, VVIPs and high-profile individuals were also expected to arrive at Islamabad International Airport, for which a separate security plan had been devised by Rawalpindi police. Under the plan, 2800 police personnel, including 130 snipers, are being deployed on the rooftops of buildings, sources told Dawn. As for those landing at the Nur Khan Airbase, 400 commandos, including 100 snipers, are being employed to provide security at the time of arrival and departure, they added.

Earlier, sources close to the security arrangements told Dawn that the teams would also put in place security measures for VVIPs in close coordination with the local authorities, including security forces. The managements of luxury hotels in Islamabad have reportedly been asked to have their premises vacated as well. The Islamabad police and administration have asked the management of hotels, hostels, inns and guest houses to close their premises and lock their buildings until further orders.

A notification issued by the Islamabad district magistrate’s office also said that trails 2, 3, 4, 5 and the one behind the Saidpur village were being closed from April 20 until further orders. While the notification, seen by Dawn, did not specify the reason behind the decision, the move coincided with other measures being taken ahead of the possible second round of US-Iran talks in the federal capital. The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) of Pakistan on Sunday also said that no judicial work should be conducted on April 20 amid the closure of Red Zone, Islamabad.

The notification by the FCC said, “On account of closure of the Red Zone in Islamabad as well as keeping in view the difficulties to be faced by lawyers, litigants and the officers/officials of the court to attend the court, the chief justice, Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan, in exercise of powers conferred under Rule 5 of Order II of the Supreme Court Rules 2025, has been pleased to order that no judicial work shall be conducted on April 20, 2026 (Monday) at the principal seat of the court at Islamabad. “Consequently, the cause list of the court shall stand cancelled. However, all officers and staff shall work from home and shall not leave the station.

Besides, all four branch registries of the court shall remain open for judicial and administrative work.” Security was on high alert in Rawalpindi on Saturday, with the deployment of over 10,000 police personnel. About 7,000 personnel of the Islamabad police and 4,000 of the Punjab police, along with 900 Federal Constabulary personnel, are available for security duty in the capital. Earlier on Sunday, in a televised address, Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said there had been “progress” with Washington but signalled that a final peace deal was “far”.

Historic direct US-Iran talks held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12 had ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown. US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the talks days ago, but Washington and Tehran remain in a stand-off over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran again closed the strait on Saturday, saying it would not reopen the maritime trade route until the US ended its blockade of Iranian ports. Additional reporting by Mohammad Asghar