Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The people living in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are fully prepared to observe “Eid Milad-un-Nabi” with religious zeal and fervour to demonstrate their great love, reverence and attachment with the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) today.

All major buildings including governmental, non-governmental facilities, mosques and even households have been decorated and illuminated with colourful lights while a number of processions, conferences and other activities are scheduled to be held in both the cities.

Muslims observe “Eid Milad-un-Nabi” on the Hijri calendar date of 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal every year across the world. As per routine, the day will start off with an official 31-gun salute at the federal capital whereas several Seerat conferences, Holy Quran and reverent “Naat” (Poem praising the Holy Prophet) recitation competitions and “Milad” (Muslim religious processions will be held in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Contrary to the previous routine, the National Seerat conference will be held in Lahore instead of Islamabad. The conference will be organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who will attend the session as the chief guest.

Imran Siddiqui, a public relations officer of the ministry explained that the venue had been changed because the ministry had decided to rotate the venue among the provinces each year. He informed further: “This year the “Seerat Conference” will be held in Lahore and a large number of international scholars are also expected to attend the conference.”

However, big and small processions of “Eid Milad-un-Nabi” will be taken out in different parts of the twin cities to pay homage to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May God’s Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him). Religious leaders and scholars will preach the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, stories and incidents from his life of morals, such as truth, benevolence, honesty, courage, forgiveness, kindheartedness, bravery during battles and dangerous times, wisdom, God-fearing, peace loving and piety.

Three main processions will be secluded in Islamabad from the Police Ground in Sector G-9 to Aabpara in Sector G-6, Sector G9 to Peshawar Morh and Sector I-8 to Sector I-9. While talking to Daily Times, the head of the the Islamabad Ulema Council, Dr. Zafer Iqbal, said: “The “Milad” processions will be held as per their previous routine on their traditional routes in a peaceful and respected manner while several other gatherings will also be held in chosen mosques of the capital city.”

To avoid any inconvenience, the traffic police have also prepared a separate traffic plan to divert the traffic flow away from the traditional routes of the processions. Furthermore, Section 144 will be imposed in Rawalpindi District on Monday and a control room has also been established in District Coordination Office Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, there will be no load shedding on Monday as following the directions of the Ministry of Water and Power, to avoid routine load shedding on the occasion of “Eid Milad-un-Nabi”, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has also ordered to ensure the presence of emergency teams in the field to restore power supply at the earliest in case of any technical problem in any area.

In a unique way to celebrate this “Eid Milad-un-Nabi”, people have also decided to donate in charity while food and sweets will be distributed among the poor and the needy. Moreover, contributions will be made to support orphanages, asylums for the physically and mentally challenged, as well as the widows.