The country celebrated Eidul Azha on Saturday, with leaders urging unity and selflessness, and emphasising the importance of promoting values of sacrifice, love, and brotherhood.
Congregational prayers were held at mosques, Eidgahs and open places in all cities, towns and villages across the country.
Women offer prayers at the Badshahi Mosque during the Eidul Azha in Lahore, June 7. — AFP
People offer Eidul Azha prayers at an Eidgah at Charsadda Road, Peshawar, June 7. — Zahid Imdad
The municipal administrations in cities and towns made special arrangements for the disposal of offal and other post-qurbani solid waste during the three days of Eidul Azha, and to ensure cleanliness.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended heartfelt congratulations to the entire Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah around the world on the occasion of Eidul Azha.
They emphasised the importance of promoting values of sacrifice, love, brotherhood, and unity in the nation’s behaviour.
In his message, the president said that the day revives in people the spirit of faith, sacrifice, selflessness, and brotherhood.
“He called for drawing lessons from the spirit of sacrifice and selflessness shown by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and integrating them into our lives,” Radio Pakistan said.
He said there was a pressing need to support the underprivileged and marginalised segments of our society. “Along with the act of animal sacrifice, Eid calls upon us to make a solemn pledge to always care for those in need.”
Zardari said as a nation, we must support each other, share in each other’s sorrows, and work together to build a prosperous and great Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz said, “The message of Eidul Azha is not limited to the sacrifice of animals alone, it also teaches us to sacrifice our ego, desires, and personal interests for higher purposes.
“As our beloved homeland, Pakistan, moves forward on the path of development, we must embrace the spirit of unity, sacrifice, and selflessness.”
He said this Eid teaches us not only the importance of sacrificing life and wealth but also that nations achieve greatness when they work for collective welfare and selflessness alongside individual development.
PM Shehbaz continued, “Today, we must especially remember our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are enduring ruthless and inhumane oppression and hunger.”
He added: “Likewise, we reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the brave people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, who have been engaged in a just and courageous struggle for their right to self-determination for decades.”
The prime minister, along with former chief minister Hamza Shehbaz, offered prayers in Lahore’s Model Town.
