LAHORE: For the first time since COVID-19 broke out, the provincial metropolis, like other parts of the country, on Tuesday celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with religious zeal and fervour without restrictions.
\nLarge prayer gatherings were held to mark the auspicious occasion, while special prayers were also offered at the Eid congregations held across the city for the progress and prosperity of the country besides special prayers for the unity of Muslim Ummah.
\nThe people were seen quite happy to celebrate the Eid festivities beginning with preparations of sweets and other delicious dishes to enjoy the day after ending of the holy month of Ramazan.
\nThe weather was also bit cloudy and cool compared to last few day\u2019s scorching heat.
\nStrict security measures were put in place to ensure law and order during Eid congregations in the city as around 5000 personnel were deployed.
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz offered Eid prayer at Jati Umra, Raiwind.
\nOn Sunday, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee had announced that Eidul Fitr would be celebrated today (Tuesday)as the Shawwal moon was not sighted on Sunday.
\nThin traffic was seen on the city roads as most of the people were staying at homes in day time however people started visiting food points and recreational sites along with families in the evening. The celebrations will continue on second and third day of Eid as the Federal government has announced Eid holidays till Thursday, May 5.
\nFestivities on third day of Eid
\nThe festivities on the third day of Eid-ul-Fitr continued as people on Thursday thronged recreational places and picnic sports to celebrate Eid. In twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi people are visited their relatives, parks and other picnic places to enjoy pleasant weather.
\nSeveral picnic spots like, Lake View Park, Pakistan Monument, F-9 Park, Rose and Jasmine garden, Ayub national park, Double road park Rawalpindi, Family park Commercial markets Satellite Town Rawalpindi, Jinnah park and other parks received huge number of visitors.
\nGirls were seen swinging at the parks while children were screaming on merry-go-rounds and the adults were exuberant to see smiles on the faces of their children. A large number of people were also seen travelling towards Murree Hills to enjoy Eid celebrations as the weather of Murree Hills has been very pleasant particularly on Eid days.
\nThe parks in Rawalpindi were specially decorated to make them attractive for the visitors.
\nThe residents of Rawalpindi city and adjoining areas on Wednesday and Thursday thronged different parks to enjoy the second and third day of Eid-ul-Fitr as the families along with children were seen at the city parks and picnic spots and there was also rush at restaurants to enjoy dishes of different kinds.
\nHaving spent the first day of Eid on Tuesday on ritual exercise of greeting relatives, friends and near and dear ones, the citizens were seen flocking to several picnic spots and parks.
\nThe families visiting the parks of the city complained that over charging, sale of substandard food items and non-availability of quality products are main cause of concern. The vendors took full benefit of the situation as the concerned authorities failed to control the quality and rates of the commodities rather there was no check and balance in this regard and the shopkeepers were given free hand.
\nThe citizens demanded of the authorities to take action against the violators and those fleecing the tourists. \u201cThe food-items being offered at the canteen were tantamount to fleecing and the children were being robbed off their Eid is at different parts,\u201d said Mushtaq a visitor at Ayub Park. A special control room had also been set up at Deputy Commissioner (DC) Office Rawalpindi which is working round the clock to cope with any emergency situation.
\nAccording to a Commissioner Office spokesman, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Noor ul Amin Mengal had directed the departments concerned particularly Police, City Traffic Police (CTP) and Rescue-1122 to remain alert during Eid ul Fitr holidays to ensure security and provide maximum relief to the citizens.
\nThe Commissioner had directed the authorities concerned to pay more attention to parks and other public places besides setting up special posts at various points by Rescue-1122 to avoid any untoward incident.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE: For the first time since COVID-19 broke out, the provincial metropolis, like other parts of the country, on Tuesday celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with religious zeal and fervour without restrictions. Large prayer gatherings were held to mark the auspicious occasion, while special prayers were also offered at the Eid congregations held across the city for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":258785,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[6714,6774,6829],"class_list":{"0":"post-258752","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national","8":"tag-celebrated","9":"tag-eid-ul-fitr","10":"tag-zeal"},"yoast_head":"\n