Eid-ul-Azha Mubarak: Pakistan marks the festivities overshadowed by inflation

Thursday marks Pakistan celebrating Eidul Azha today (Thursday) with great religious zeal and fervor to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

However, this year’s Eid ul Azha like Eid ul Fitr has also been marred with inflation and soaring prices as Pakistan faces one of its worst crises as the government struggles to revive a stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, resulting in skyrocketing inflation and a record plunge in the rupee’s value.

The day began with the main Eid congregation being held across the country at mosques, Eidgahs, and open places.

And following the Eid prayers, the faithful are slaughtering their sacrificial animals in pursuance of Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi. 

On the other hand, several Pakistanis have been left out of this activity amid the soaring prices which left them unable to purchase a sacrificial animal.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir celebrated Eid in Parachinar with the soldiers performing their duties in the border area.

The prime minister has been accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz Sharif, in his message, felicitated the nation and the Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of Hajj and Eidul Azha, urging the people to take special care and remember those who became homeless due to the previous year’s floods.

Prime Minister said he was cognizant of the fact that Pakistan had been facing price hikes triggered by external issues in the shape of inflation and recession. However, the government was utilizing all the resources to provide relief to the public, he added.

Separately, the ISPR in a message said the armed forces, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and the Services Chiefs wished a very happy Eidul Azha to fellow Pakistanis.

“Eid ul Azha gives us a message of peace, unity, fraternity, and selfless sacrifice for humanity,” the ISPR statement said, asking the people to remember and honor the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. “They will forever be etched in our hearts.”