Punjab’s public and private hospitals faced an emergency of sorts during the Eid holidays after over 18,000 patients were admitted on gastrointestinal related illnesses after consuming too much meat.
Around 3,000 people were admitted in hospitals in Lahore alone, with most complaining of stomach ache, heartburn and high blood pressure.
Anticipating the influx of overeating citizens, the Punjab government had already put public hospitals on high alert, with doctors, nurses and paramedical staff on duty to administer to the population’s needs.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Eid-Ul-Azha is the symbol of sacrifice, equality and compassion.
In a tweet posted from his official account, the Premier wrote that the occasion “fosters unity by reducing socio-economic inequalities and creates feelings of empathy and complete surrender before Allah Almighty”
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice-president Maryam Nawaz has left for Dubai as the Sharif family plans to celebrate Eid-Ul-Azha in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) together.
According to media reports, Nawaz Sharif has already reached Dubai.
“Vice President and Chief Organizer of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Maryam Nawaz Sharif has left for Dubai on a private visit. Party leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has already reached Dubai. Other family members are also with him,” Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb tweeted.
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کی نائب صدر اور چیف آرگنائزر مریم نواز شریف نجی دورے پہ دبئی روانہ ہوگئی ہیں۔ پارٹی قائد جناب محمد نواز شریف پہلے ہی دبئی پہنچ چکے ہیں۔ فیملی کے دیگر ارکان بھی ان کے ہمراہ ہیں
Reportedly, Maryam Nawaz will go to London after her visit to Dubai, however, Maryam Aurangzeb didn’t give further information about their huddle in Dubai.
With Eid-ul-Azha tomorrow, Muslims all around the globe will be sacrificing animals to remember the practice of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S). Meat lovers usually crave meat but on Eid-ul-Azha, seeing meat all around diminishes the craving and sometimes, develops an urge to eat vegetarian food. Moreover, vegetarians also wonder what to eat on Eid. In this article, we will go over easy and delicious vegan food that you can make on this Eid.
1- Bhindi Pyaz (Okra or Ladyfinger)
Pakistani star vegan food, bhindi, can be prepared by stir-frying bhindi with onion, garlic, tomatoes and a few other everyday masala. Quantities of masala may vary depending on your taste in food. It is best served with chapati. You can also fry bhindi filled with chat masala and serve it to guests as an alternative to crispy meat.
2- Lobia ka Salan
Lobia ka salan is another Pakistani traditional food that is famous because of its fulfilling taste. It is prepared with Lobia in onion tomato gravy base and can be served in a bowl with chapati. It tastes equally well with boiled rice, which is a cherry on top.
3- Matar Pulao
Matar pulao is yet another famous dish among Pakistanis. It is prepared with rice, green peas and blend of other spices. It is usually served with sliced cucumber salad to add to its flavour. It is one of the best vegan food that could be served to vegetarian guests visiting your place.
4- Alo Kabab
When it comes to vegetarian food, it will not be fair to not mention aaloo kababs. Mashed potato mixed with sliced cauliflower, green capsicum and masala depending on your taste serves as best and quick dish that you can have at Eid. Its appetising smell and circular crispy shape can bring water to anyone’s mouth.
5- Mixed vegetables
Last but not the least, another vegetarian and gluten-free dish that you can eat during this meaty Eid is mixed sabzi. If you are a veggie lover, then it is a must try. It can give you plenty of vegetables in one dish. You can even purchase frozen mixed vegetable packs from any super market. There is no need to spend time on slicing different vegetables. All you need is to follow the instructions given on the pack and you are good to go.
If in the midst of Eid shopping and taking care of your sacrificial animals, you want to treat yourself with some meetha? Then you don’t have to worry, we’ve got you covered with the list of places from where you can order desserts online that are guaranteed to save the day.
Jalal Sons
You can order desserts from the vast range of varieties available at Jalal Sons and also their Choco Cadbury Pastry is to die for.
The National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced numerous guidelines for Eid ul Azha, which will be celebrated tomorrow, Wednesday, in Pakistan. The NCOC has recommended that no Qurbani should be allowed at home/residential areas, reportedSamaa.
The government has requested the public to follow all the precautionary measures as the country is heading towards the fourth wave of coronavirus.
The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding Qurbani include:
Provinces to initiate awareness campaigns to educate people on the spread of the virus during meat distribution.
Religious leaders told to encourage collective Qurbani.
The skin of sacrificed animals will not be given to banned organisations.
Minimum persons to be allowed at the Qurbani site.
Last week, Special Assistant to the PM on Health, Dr Faisal Sultan stated that it is mandatory to wear masks and maintain distance from the crowds even for unvaccinated individuals.
Covid numbers continue to rise
New cases last 24h = 2545 National positivity = 5.2% City-wise % positivity – Karachi 19%, Peshawar 9.4%, Islamabad 6.2%, Lahore 3.8%
Use masks (even if you are vaccinated) Avoid crowds Vaccinate – over 580,000 doses administered yesterday!
Following the outbreak of the Delta variant in Karachi, more restrictions have been imposed in various parts of the country. The positivity rate on July 20 remains at 5.25 percent.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Services, Dr Faisal Sultan, on Monday said that only vaccinated people will be allowed to visit tourist resorts during the Eid holidays from July 20 till July 22.
People can travel once they are fully vaccinated. Dr Sultan stressed that it is necessary to have a vaccination certificate to travel during the Eid holidays.
While talking to the media, he appealed to all citizens to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and to get vaccinated.
Dr Sultan said that in the last few days, the positivity rate of Pakistan’s Covid-19 cases has jumped from two percent to four percent. The main cause of this surge is violation of SOPs, and the Delta Variant.
Dr Sultan also said that the government may seek help from the army to implement SOPs, as per sources.
According to the latest statistics by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 47,015 tests for coronavirus were conducted across the country in the last 24 hours, of which 1,808 people tested positive.
Statistics 12 Jul 21: Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 47,015 Positive Cases: 1808 Positivity % : 3.84% Deaths : 15
With a complete ban on Eid parties, travelling and pappis and jhappis (don’t forget Apa is watching), Eid this year is not like the ones we used to have in our childhood. With little to do and no place to go, what better than a movie night in with the fam?
While Netflix has thousands of options to choose from for a fun family movie night, there are some films which are touted to be “family-friendly” but are not. Here is a list of films you should definitely not be watching with the fam.
Queen
While Queen is a highly entertaining watch about a woman who decides to go on her honeymoon alone after her fiancé ditches her days before the wedding and features a brave female protagonist (Kangana Ranaut), some of the scenes, especially those involving Lisa Haydon can be very awkward to watch with your parents or siblings.
Kapoor and Sons
Featuring Pakistan’s heartthrob Fawad Khan, Kapoor & Sons is a decent film about family issues and sibling rivalry but the racy scenes and Fawad’s character being gay can make it a tad bit uncomfortable to watch with family. Though everyone has a choice to love who they want, Pakistani families perhaps aren’t ready yet, especially if you’re hanging out with the Nana Nani or Dada Dadi. That’s a discussion you might not want to have, yet.
Khoobsurat
Khoobsurat may feature Pakistan’s resident heartthrob, but this too like Kapoor & Sons is not one to be watched with the family unless you’d like to watch him shirtless with five others. Best to watch this alone!
And old fav, Main Hoon Na definitely comes across as a family film given that it is set in a university and against the backdrop of Indo-Pak tension. However, Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen romancing in a waterfall can make things a tad bit awkward if you end up playing this on the family movie night.
Jab We Met
Another classic Jab We Met featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor, comes across as a simple and soft romantic film but it includes some racy scenes so it’s best not to watch it with the fam.
Dil Dhadakne Do
Another film about a dysfunctional upper-class family who embarks on a cruise to celebrate the parents’ 30th wedding anniversary. Instead of being a fun and easy holiday, the trip sends the Mehras on a journey of self-discovery and brings out problems that have been long brushed under the carpet. While the film is relatable and honest, but the sexually-charged passionate scenes between Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma make it not-so-family-friendly.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020)
Considered a family movie, with teen love and romance, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is a story about finding love in high school. Based on Jenny Han’s book trilogy, the film starts off where the first film ended: with Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky as a couple. The two are poles apart but totally smitten with each other. Enter John Ambrose McLaren, one of Lara’s past crushes, and also a recipient of one of her love letters. He has a crush on Lara giving birth to the main conflict of the movie: which boy is the better choice for Lara?
Even though it’s considered a family movie in the west, with supportive parents, allowing their children to date, can you imagine the HAW HAI our mothers would be doing and how our fathers would say the West is ruining us and making us loose and wild? A BIG NO if you want to go to a mixed school again.
Bulbbul
Bulbbul may come across as a good old horror flick about a churail (witch) living in an old haveli but it features some really gruesome scenes, including those involving rape. Hence, definitely not one you can watch with the fam.
In case you want some suggestions for film you can watch with the fam, we recommend Cake, Teefa in Trouble, Ho Mann Jahan, 3 Idiots, Murder Mystery and The Laundromats.
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched aninvestigation against the online platforms that were selling sacrificial animals this Eid.
Majority of complaints filed are about late delivery of meat, lesser meat quantity, and in some cases, the meat was not even delivered. There are also complains that the animal meat got stale to the point where it became un-edible.
A few weeks before Edi-Ul-Adha several meat brands, cattle farm owners, and regular businesses set up their website offering multiple services regarding the Eid.
Among them, the lowest-ranked online Eid services providers are Meat Master, ARY Sahulat Bazar, and Laal Meat. The online platforms offered the substandard facilities to the users and did not deliver what it promised the users.
The Deputy Director of Crime Cell Abdul Ghafoor said that after receiving hundreds of complaints, the unit finally decides to conduct a thorough investigation.
Iftikhar Shalwani, the Commissioner Karachi, has advised FIA to take stern action against such companies along with the others which will be deciphered fully after the investigation.
Earlier, the government has urged the citizens to avoid going to the cattle market and buy cattle online to curb the spread of COVID-19.
It was not the first time when online platform became an option for the selling and purchasing of the sacrificial animal it has been done for years.
