Preparations are in full swing for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games torch relay which will reach the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on April 16, a local English daily reported Saturday.

Islamabad is one of the venues for the Beijing Olympic torch relay, which will begin on April 1.

"We are in contact with the Beijing Olympic officials as the government is fully committed to host the event successfully," an official of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) told the Dawn newspaper.

He added that a 12-member Chinese delegation headed by Jiang Xiaoyu, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee (BOCOG) called on the Pakistani leaders in February and were assured full cooperation from the Pakistani side.

Meanwhile, routes have already been finalized. However, due to security reasons they are being kept a closely guarded secret.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2008)