Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to offer condolence on the demise of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The prime minister will leave for UAE from London where he is currently staying.
On Sunday, PM Shehbaz will meet and express condolences with Crown Prince Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan.
Earlier in a condolence message on Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan laid the foundation of UAE Federation whereas Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan strengthened it and gave it exemplary development.
PM Shehbaz said Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan took his father's developmental vision for UAE to new heights with fifty years of continuous hard work.
The prime minister termed the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan a great loss for Muslim Ummah.
Meanwhile, Government of Pakistan has announced three-day national mourning in solidarity with the brotherly people of UAE over the sad demise of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
According to a press release issued by the Foreign Office (FO), the National Flag shall also fly at half-mast during the mourning period.
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan passed away at the age of 73.
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, who was born in 1948, came to power in 2004 in the richest emirate Abu Dhabi and became the head of state.
According to Khaleej Times, Khalifa was elected to succeed his father, the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who served as the UAE’s first president since the union in 1971 until he passed away on November 2, 2004.
Now after his demise he is expected to be succeeded as ruler of Abu Dhabi by his half-brother Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
Mohammed bin Zayed has been the de facto ruler of the US-allied UAE, particularly after Khalifa suffered a stroke in 2014, following which he has rarely been seen in public.
Sheikh Khalifa was the second President of the UAE and the 16th Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He was the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed.
