ISLAMABAD : Pakistan came alive with devotion and celebration on Wednesday as Muslims nationwide observed Eid Milad un Nabi, honouring the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through prayers, processions, and community gatherings held in cities large and small.
The occasion, corresponding to 12th Rabi ul Awal, 1448 AH, began at dawn with a ceremonial 31-gun salute fired in Islamabad, while the four provincial capitals each marked the morning with 21-gun salutes. Special supplications were offered right after Fajr prayers, seeking unity within the Muslim Ummah and continued peace and prosperity for Pakistan.
A Nationwide Holiday and Public Celebration
In recognition of the occasion, the federal government designated August 26 as a public holiday across the country. Cities and towns transformed overnight, with mosques, homes, markets and major roads adorned in green flags, decorative lights and festive buntings.
Communities organised Mahafil-e-Milad gatherings, seminars and religious conferences throughout the day. Milad processions, arranged by religious groups, local Milad committees and civic organisations, wound through streets in multiple cities, drawing large crowds eager to take part in the celebrations.
Scholars addressing these gatherings focused on different chapters of the Prophet’s life, encouraging attendees to embrace his teachings and follow the Sunnah in their daily conduct. In keeping with tradition, many families and organisations distributed sweets and meals at orphanages, neighbourhoods and public markets, reflecting the charitable spirit associated with the day.
President and PM Extend Eid Milad un Nabi Messages
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued separate statements for Eid Milad un Nabi Pakistan, encouraging young people to look to the Seerat of the Prophet (PBUH) as a source of guidance and to build their lives around strong moral character, diligence and service to others.
Both leaders offered warm greetings to the nation and to Muslims worldwide on the occasion. President Zardari described the day as a reminder of the profound blessing Allah bestowed upon humanity through the Prophet (PBUH), who delivered a message centred on faith, justice, compassion and guidance.
He added that society bears a responsibility to foster tolerance, protect human dignity, and encourage harmony between different sects and faiths, in line with Islamic principles. Prime Minister Shehbaz, for his part, said Pakistan’s path through its current economic and social difficulties lies in aligning national life with the guidance offered by Islam.
He urged the country’s youth to draw inspiration from the Prophet’s Seerat, prioritise integrity and hard work, and contribute to building a stable, prosperous and welfare-oriented Pakistan.
Seerat-un-Nabi Conference Held in Islamabad
As the centrepiece of official commemorations, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony hosted an International Seerat-un-Nabi Conference in the capital. This year’s theme centred on protecting, developing and shaping the character of younger generations through the lens of the Prophet’s life and example.
The event drew an assembly of religious scholars, academics, researchers, lawmakers, diplomats, government representatives, journalists and other notable figures from Pakistan as well as several Islamic nations. Participants presented research papers and policy recommendations exploring how the Prophet’s teachings could be applied to address present-day national and social challenges.
Parliament Calls for Unity and Tolerance
A day earlier, the National Assembly passed a resolution urging federal and provincial governments to organise large-scale programmes for Eid Milad un Nabi and to encourage broad public participation. Lawmakers called for highways and public spaces to be illuminated and decorated, while inviting government departments, schools, businesses and media houses to join the celebrations.
The resolution also emphasised spreading peace, tolerance and brotherhood in accordance with the Prophet’s teachings, and asked citizens to mark the occasion with devotion, dignity and a renewed commitment to his Sunnah.
Eid Milad un Nabi falls annually on the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal in the Islamic lunar calendar and is observed by Muslim communities across Pakistan and around the globe through prayer, charity and reflection on the life and message of the Prophet, regarded as a mercy sent for all of humanity.