Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Qatar on a one-day visit on Monday to express condolences over the death of Qatar’s former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) president Nawaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar are also accompanying the prime minister.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will meet Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and extend condolences on the passing of the former emir.

The visit underscores the decades-long fraternal ties between Pakistan and Qatar, reflecting the close relationship shared by the Qatari leadership, the people of Qatar, and the government and people of Pakistan.

Day of mourning

Earlier, the government had declared a day of national mourning on Monday, July 13, on the demise of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared the national mourning as an expression of fraternal solidarity on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan with Qatar’s royal family, government and the people, according to an official notification.

The national flag shall fly at half-mast across the country.