Daily Times

LAHORE: Eidul Fitr was celebrated with religious fervour and traditional festivity in the provincial capital under tight security, as police had evolved a comprehensive security plan to ensure peaceful atmosphere by deputing more than 10,000 policemen in this regard.

Large public gatherings of Eid were held at Badshahi Mosque, Data Darbar, Jamia Naeemia, Mansoorah, Jamiatul Muntazir, Idara Minhajul Hussain, Gaddafi Stadium, Baghe Jinnah, Model Town Park, Jamia Ashrafia, Punjab University New Campus, imambargahs, open places, parks, Eidgahs and grounds, where the faithful turned in hundreds of thousands.

Punjab Governor Rafiq Rajwana offered Eid prayer in Badshahi Mosque while Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif offered Eid prayer in Ittefaq Mosque, Model Town. They also exchanged Eid greetings with people on the occasion.

Clerics highlighted the significance of the day and urged the people to follow the teachings of Islam and the Holy Quran. They also condemned the terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia and termed them as attack on the entire Muslim community. They underlined the need of complete unity among Muslims in their ranks and files. Special prayers were offered for integrity, solidarity and prosperity of the country.

After the Eid prayers, people visited the residences of their relatives and friends to exchange Eid greetings distribute Eidi among children. Thousands of people along with their family members thronged to graveyards and offered Fateha besides laying flower wreaths on the graves of their loved ones.

On the directions of Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Capt (r) Muhammad Amin Wains, security cover was provided to more than 20,000 mosques, imambargahs and open places where prayer congregations were held. The city police also established control rooms for better coordination between various security wings of police. All the divisional SPs, supervisory police officers, SHOs and over 1,000 upper subordinates were deputed at various places while patrolling system of Dolphin Squad was also intensified.

Likewise, a special traffic plan was prepared to ensure smooth flow of traffic on roads during Eid holidays and 2,535 traffic wardens were deputed at important roads and busy areas in this regard.

Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and district administration also made special arrangements to ensure cleanliness and storm water disposal after rain.

Women prepared special sweet dishes and desserts including vermicelli, cakes, ras malai, custard and sheer khurma on the occasion to please their family members. Families also invite their relatives and friends in their homes and enjoyed the flavours of different cuisines. As many as 6,000 tonnes of waste on the eve and around 14,000 tonnes during Eid days were removed from the city by Lahore Waster Management Company. More than 8500 waste containers were emptied during the operation carried out by compactors of Turkish companies.

LWMC Managing Director Bilal Mustafa Syed said, “More than 8,000 employees, including senior officials of LWMC observed Eidul Fitr by remaining alert in the field in order to successfully meet the challenge of ensuring clean environment for citizens of Lahore.”