ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit, extending condolences to the Thai royal family and the people of Thailand.
The Thai Royal Household Bureau announced that Queen Mother Sirikit, revered for her grace, philanthropy, and role in the country’s postwar royal revival, passed away at the age of 93.
According to the palace, the Queen Mother had been largely out of the public eye since suffering a stroke in 2012. She had been hospitalized since 2019 due to multiple illnesses and developed a bloodstream infection on October 17, before passing away late Friday night.
In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was “deeply saddened at the passing of the beloved Queen Mother of Thailand.
The people and Government of Pakistan join me in extending our deepest condolences to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the Royal Family, and the people of Thailand. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time of national grief, the Prime Minister stated.
The Thai government has declared a period of national mourning, with flags to be flown at half-mast for one month. Officials have been directed to observe mourning for a full year, while entertainment venues have been asked to suspend activities for a month.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also announced the cancellation of his planned visits to the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and the APEC Summit in South Korea next week. He said he would make a brief trip to Malaysia on Sunday to sign a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia before returning home.