Pak team in Switzerland for peace deal signing

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials are expected to arrive later in the day

ISLAMABAD:

The peace agreement between the United States and Iran is set to be signed at the historic and scenic Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland, instead of Geneva, on Friday (tomorrow).

A special ceremony is will be attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Tight security arrangements have been put in place at the venue.

A delegation from Pakistan's Foreign Office, led by the foreign secretary, has already reached Switzerland to finalize preparations, while the prime minister and other senior officials are expected to arrive later in the day.

Located in the canton of Nidwalden, about 500 meters above Lake Lucerne, the Bürgenstock Resort spans 148 acres and has symbolized Swiss hospitality since 1873. The complex comprises 30 buildings, including three separate hotels, 12 restaurants, and private residences.

The Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa is a modern glass-structured property offering guests complimentary spa facilities. The resort features five swimming pools, including an infinity pool overlooking Lake Lucerne, as well as luxury private villas designed to ensure maximum privacy.

Culinary offerings at the resort include Asian, Persian, and Middle Eastern cuisine. The property also features a nine-hole golf course, a private cinema, a conference center with a capacity of 600 guests, and Europe's highest outdoor lift.

Over the years, the resort has hosted numerous global figures, including Hollywood actress Sophia Loren and her husband Carlo Ponti, who lived there for seven years. It has also welcomed former German chancellor Konrad Adenauer, India's Jawaharlal Nehru, former US president Jimmy Carter, and former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger.

The venue has frequently served as a setting for major international negotiations, including the 2002 New Montreux Mountain ceasefire agreement, post-Sudan civil war peace talks, discussions between Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders, and the Ukraine peace summit held in June 2024.

Pakistan has also participated in various international conferences at the resort, including meetings related to Ukraine peace initiatives.

A unique feature of the Bürgenstock Resort is its car-free environment, with access provided via the Bürgenstock funicular (cable car).