ISLAMABAD: Security and law-enforcement agencies have been placed at high alert across the country as the nation celebrates Eidul Azha on Monday with religious zeal and fervour, remembering the sprit of sacrifice rendered by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) in the path of Allah.

Strict security arrangements have been made at places where Eid prayers will be held, especially in cantonment areas. Walk-through gates and scanners will be installed at the main congregations’ venues.

People will sacrifice goats and cows on three days from Monday. It is believed that camels will be slaughtered mostly on Wednesday.

A higher than normal activity was observed on Sunday night in the markets across the country as a large number of people, including youngsters and women, went out for last-minute shopping.

The rush was higher than in previous years because of an overall improvement in law and order.

President Asif Ali Zardari will celebrate Eid in Karachi. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is in St Petersburg, Russia, where he will be attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

In Islamabad, the biggest Eid congregation will be held at Shah Faisal Mosque and main gatherings will be held at Eidgah, Liaquat Bagh and Westridge in Rawalpindi.

A large number of people have gone to their hometowns to celebrate the day with their families.

In Lahore, the mass congregation will be held at the historic Badshahi Mosque, whereas other congregations will be held at Data Darbar, Jamia Naeemia and Mansoora.

In Karachi, the biggest congregation will be held at Nishtar Park.

The municipal authorities across the country have announced plans for disposal of entrails and offal of sacrificial animals to maintain cleanliness.

A majority of people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will celebrate Eid on Monday. However, the festival was celebrated in parts of Taliban-dominated Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency and Orakzai Agency and some tribal areas on Sunday.

Afghan refugees residing mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also celebrated Eid on Sunday.

According to sources, Lashkar-i-Islam had made an announcement on its FM radio on Saturday calling upon residents of Sipah, Malikdin Khel, Akkakhel, Shalobar and Qamarkhel in Bara to observe Eid on Sunday. A similar decision had been made by the Shura of Amr Bil Maroof wa Nahi Anil Munkar (Haji Namdar group) in Qambar area of Bara.

In their separate messages, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called upon the people to adopt the values of sacrifice, brotherhood, kindness and charity to create a tolerant and harmonious society.

The president said the nation faced difficult times and the country was now facing the problem of rehabilitating flood-affected and to protect them from contagious diseases and the scourge of terrorism.

He urged people to do away with regional prejudices and religious intolerance and work for progress and prosperity of the country and nation.

The prime minister urged the people not to forget families affected by terrorism and floods and share happiness with them by helping them in their hour of need.

“It is our utmost effort to promote the environment of consensus and harmony among people. With our farsightedness and realism, we are working to serve the people. Collective good and welfare of people is the clear objective of our government”, Mr Gilani said.

The prime minister said: “We want to make Pakistan such kind of welfare and democratic state where people get economic equality and social justice.”

To achieve this goal, he said, there was a need to promote Islamic teachings based on values of brotherhood, love, tolerance, patience and compassion.