On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, cities and villages across the province have been illuminated ahead of Ramazan, with decorative lights and thematic installations adorning major roads, markets and public spaces.
According to a handout, in Rawalpindi, preparations to welcome the holy month are in full swing. Neon-signs bearing the slogan “Ramazan Nigehban” have been installed, while main roads, markets and intersections have been brightly lit. Green belts are decorated with colourful lights and illuminated inscriptions of the names of Allah have been displayed along key arteries, creating a festive atmosphere. Trees along major roads have also been wrapped in vibrant lighting.
Market entrances feature arch-shaped lighting installations designed around the Ramazan theme. In Chakwal and Talagang, streets and bazaars have been decorated on the chief minister’s special instructions, while illuminated arches at Nigehban Ramazan Bazaars and Dastarkhwan centres have attracted public attention.
Similar arrangements have been made in Attock, Khushab, Mianwali and Faisalabad, as well as in Bahawalpur, Nankana Sahib, Sargodha, Vehari, Gujrat and Muzaffargarh.
Electric lighting has also enhanced the ambiance in Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalnagar, Sahiwal and Pakpattan. In Murree, winding roads have been illuminated with decorative lighting to welcome the holy month.
Pushcart bazaars in various cities have also been lit up to mark the arrival of Ramazan. Meanwhile, provision of essential food items at subsidised rates in Sahulat and Ramazan bazaars established by the provincial government is aimed at facilitating citizens and enhancing the festive spirit across Punjab.
Meanwhile; Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has extended her heartfelt congratulations to the Muslim Ummah on the arrival of the holy month of Ramazan, expressing best wishes and prayers for peace, stability and prosperity.
In her message on the commencement of Ramazan, the chief minister urged the nation to offer special prayers for the safety, progress and well-being of the country during Sehr, Iftar and Taraweeh. She said the Holy Quran teaches that whoever does even an atom’s weight of good will surely receive its reward.
She said the blessed month of fasting provides a rare opportunity to attain the pleasure, mercy and blessings of Allah Almighty. She prayed that Ramazan may bring goodness, blessings, peace and stability to the entire Islamic world.
The chief minister appealed to the public to keep their tables open for deserving people during Sehr and Iftar, adding that Ramazan reminds believers of compassion, gratitude and generosity. She expressed gratitude to Allah for granting the opportunity to benefit from the blessings of the holy month and prayed that it brings a message of peace, development and prosperity for Pakistan. She said Ramazan is not only a month of worship but also a time to support and care for the needy. She urged well-off individuals to look after deserving people in their surroundings.
The chief minister noted that under the Ramazan Nigehban Card programme, Rs10,000 each is being provided to four million families, adding that the government has eliminated the need for people to stand in queues for ration, as assistance is being delivered at their doorsteps. She further said arrangements for Sehr and Iftar have been made at more than 300 dastarkhwans across 147 districts, while Sahulat Bazaars across Punjab have been converted into Ramazan Bazaars to provide relief to the public.