Lahore,
On the occasion of Christmas, a wonderful event was organized by the Department of Human Rights and Minority Affairs, Government of Punjab and welfare organization Youth Development Foundation at Al Hamra Arts Council in Lahore on Thursday. Provincial Minister of Auqaf and Religious Affairs Azfar Ali Nasir attended the ceremony as a special guest and said in his speech that it is a matter of happiness that the Christmas festival is celebrated in Pakistan like the rest of the world on the occasion of the birth of Jesus. He extended his heartfelt greetings to the Christian community and said that undoubtedly Jesus promoted the message of brotherhood and peace for the entire humanity. Today we all need to play our full role to promote peace and brotherhood keeping in mind his teachings. The provincial minister said that the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, also emphasized on the rights and equal opportunities of religious minorities, which is the reason why in the constitution of Pakistan, religious minorities have all the social, economic and political rights that Muslims are obtaining. He said that he want to make it clear that the Punjab government believes in promoting inter-religious harmony and that the followers of all religions are living freely according to their religious and social traditions. , continue to play an important role in economic well-being and prosperity.
Shahid Rahmat from YDF said that today’s ceremony will prove that we are one under the shadow of Pakistani flag and celebrating Christmas along with Muslim community.
In his address, Archbishop Sebastian Shaw, while offering Christmas greetings to the Christian community, said that it is a matter of great joy that Christians and Muslims celebrate together, but we must promote a culture of tolerance through interfaith. Bishop Nadeem Kamran said that without a doubt, Pakistan is such a blessing where the followers of all religions are completely free in their worship and it is a commendable initiative by the Punjab government to build the Covenant Center in 36 districts. Reverend Dr. Majeed Abel said that we all have to ensure the prevention of incidents like the Jaranwala tragedy. Today we all pray for a ceasefire in Palestine and Gaza so that peace can be established around the world. Human Rights Secretary Dr. Muhammad Shoaib Akbar said that the Department of Human Rights and Minorities is striving for the welfare of all minorities. All the important religious days of the religious minorities like Christmas, Holi, Diwali and Baba Gurunanak’s birthday are celebrated with devotion and respect and today gather together is a great example of brotherhood and love. In the ceremony, the girls of Sacred Cathedral Heart School presented a carol song while Christmas grants were distributed to the deserving members of the Christian community. all thw guests in the ceremony cut the Christmas cake and a special prayer was also made for the development and prosperity of Pakistan. In the ceremony, Shahid Rahmat, Mufti Ashiq Hussain, Maulana Mahmood Ghaznavi, Professor Kalyan Singh and many people from the Christian community were also present.
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