Pakistan to observe day of mourning on Queen Elizabeth’s death

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will observe a day of mourning on Monday for the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif accorded his approval for observing a day of mourning in Pakistan, on September 12, on the demise of Queen Elizabeth II. The cabinet division was directed to take further necessary steps in this regard.

In 1961, Queen Elizabeth, 34 at the time, undertook a royal tour of the far eastern countries which included visits to Pakistan, India, Iran and Nepal.

Her state visit to Pakistan lasted from February 1-16, during which she was accompanied by her husband, Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, and visited Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore and the northern areas of the country.

Upon arrival in Karachi, they were greeted at the airport with a warm handshake by the then president Ayub Khan.

The Queen next visited Pakistan 36 years later on the occasion of the country’s Golden Jubilee when Farooq Leghari was president and Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister.

This time, her visit was for six days beginning on October 7. She was again accompanied by her husband Prince Philip.

The Queen was conferred the highest civil award, Nishan-i-Pakistan, and the Duke was awarded the Nishan-i-Imtiaz. Queen Elizabeth also addressed a joint session of the National Assembly and the Senate.

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. She died peacefully on September 8 at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the summer. The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be held on Monday, September 19 at Westminster Abbey in London. The day has been declared a bank holiday in the UK.

People will be given the chance to pay their respects and view her coffin, first at Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral and then at Westminster Hall – where the Queen will lie in state for four days.

King Charles III will also embark on a tour of all four nations that make up the UK. He was appointed monarch by the Ascension Council, who meeting was broadcast for the first time.

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