The country shut down Monday to mourn the death of Nusrat Bhutto, former first lady and mother of assassinated prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who died in Dubai after a long illness. She was 82.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has ordered a 10-day period of national mourning with Monday a public holiday, cancelling all his engagements.

“The national flag will fly at half mast during these days,” his office said in a statement as government offices, schools, colleges, universities and businesses closed across the country.

The All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association (APPSCA) has also announced holiday on Monday across the country on account of the death of Begum Nusrat Bhutto.

In a statement, President of APPSCA Malik Abrar Hussain declared the holiday, following the announcement of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.

He said the decision in this regard was unanimously taken in an emergency meeting of the Executive Council of the APPSCA held here.