President, PM urges nation to help needy on Eid Azaha amid COVID-19

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have urged upon the nation to be more dedicated to the cause of Eidul Azha and help the poor and needy, particularly in a situation amid COVID-19.

Eid-ul-Azha is being celebrated today (Saturday) across the country with religious fervor to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

In his message to the nation on Eidul Azha, Dr Arif Alvi said while celebrating an occasion with a spirit of sacrifice, one must not forget the deserving people. The president felicitated the entire Pakistani nation and the Islamic world on Eidul Azha, and said that “surely this happy occasion will bring a lot of happiness and accomplishments in our life”.

Arif Alvi further said Allah Almighty tested His chosen servants by putting them to various challenges. “These great personalities have been fully successful in the tests, giving us a lesson that the key to success is to be steadfast in the face of trials and difficulties and to be ever ready to make any sacrifice” he added.

He added that the whole world was concerned about the COVID-19, which had negatively impacted the people across the world. He said the plague had taken a heavy toll on the world economically, with even the powerful governments struggling to provide relief to their people.

Arif Alvi quoted a Hadith as saying that when the people around Medina were suffering from famine, Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) forbade them to collect more meat for more than three days (Saheeh Bukhari, hadeeth 5569). “Therefore, one must find the needy people around them and some share of the sacrifice must be delivered to them,” he said.

He stressed that the most important thing at this point was not to ignore the safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “On this occasion, we should pray to Allah Almighty to protect us from the negative impact of this epidemic. Amen,” he added.

While greeting the nation on the occasion of Eidul Azha, Prime Minister Imran Khan has emphasized the people to strictly follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Eidul Azha to limit the spread of COVID-19.

There should be no needless visits to loved ones and the people should go outside if it were essential, PM Khan said.