05 February 2004	Thursday	13 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Feb 4: Animals sacrificed on Eid this year were less in number as compared to last year because the prices remained exceptionally high.

Fewer animals were brought to the provincial metropolis this year due to exports to the Middle East at a much higher price. The retail price of mutton was around Rs130 last year while it has increased to Rs170 this year.

Many opted for contributing towards the collective sacrifices of cows and camels as a result. The animals were available for sale on Tarru and Marru but there were no buyers except the butchers.

The Eid festivities commenced on Monday with the offering of special prayers at hundreds of mosques, Eidgahs, gardens, parks and open spaces.

Major congregations were held at the historic Badshahi Mosque, Muslim Masjid Lohari Gate, Masjid Wazir Khan, Jamia Ashrafia, Jamia Al-Muntazir, Jamia Minhajul Quran and Jamia Masjid Mansoora.

People prayed for the integrity and solidarity of Pakistan, liberation of Kashmir and Palestine and the unity of the Muslims of the world for facing the challenges being held out by the Ummat.

The Eid prayers were followed by sacrifice of goats, sheep, camels and cows by the faithful.

The meat of the sacrificed animals was distributed among the poor, friends and relatives.

Slaughterhouses and meat shops have been closed for a week as the meat sellers expected no sales due to availability of meat of sacrificial animals in every household on Eid.

The butchers kept themselves busy and continued earning money by slaughtering sacrificial animals during the Eid holidays.

Chicken meat prices also come down from over Rs70 per kg to below Rs50 per kg on account of fall in demand and bird flu scare.

Cleaners of heads and feet of sacrificial animals outside the Kot Kamboh Slaughterhouse set up their service points in all parts of the provincial metropolis. They remove the hair from the heads and feet of animals by using gas flame or fire.

The government had announced three holidays from Monday for the Eidul Azha and the fourth for the Kashmir Solidarity day. All the government offices, industrial and commercial establishments, bazars and markets remained closed.

Banks and financial institutions had the longest-ever spell of five holidays from Sunday to Thursday - Sunday on account of weekly holiday, Monday to Wednesday on account of Eid holidays and Thursday on account of Kashmir Solidarity Day.

Hundreds of thousands of people working in government offices, industrial and commercial establishments and daily wagers left the provincial metropolis for a week for celebrating Eid with their families in their hometown and villages.

Cinemas, theatres and restaurants did roaring business during the Eid holidays. Cinemas released new movies and theatres started new plays to attract maximum audience.

The Lahore Zoo also attracted large number of families. The children took keen interest in wild animals and birds besides enjoying the elephant ride. Puppet and variety shows were also organized during Eid holidays at the Zoo.

Gardens and parks were also visited by large number of people.

The city district government had made special arrangements for lifting the waste of sacrificial animals during the Eid holidays.

The Solid Waste Management has not allowed Eid holidays and its sanitary workers continued lifting the waste on its trucks and 150 pickups hired for the purpose.