Christians celebrate Christmas across Pakistan
President and PM say government striving to promote interfaith harmony, discourage religious discrimination.
Xmas trees, fairy lights, Santa caps and snowmen dotted cities across Pakistan as Christmas festivities kicked off on Sunday.
Members of the Christian community will attend special services at illuminated churches where prayers will also be offered for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, Radio Pakistan reported.
Residential colonies were decorated with twinkling lights and stars, and baubles such as bells, pine cones, apples, candies, tinsel and balloons bedecked trees, streets, houses and churches. Wreaths were hung outside stores buzzing with last-minute shopping on Christmas eve.
Ahead of Christmas this year, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique also inaugurated a special Christmas Train which travelled across the country spreading Christmas cheer. The Xmas Peace Train that left Peshawar on Dec 22 will reach Karachi on Dec 31.
Explore: In pictures: All aboard the Christmas train!
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered there to be zero loadshedding today in the country.
President Mamnoon Hussain and PM Nawaz extended their heartiest felicitations on the occasion and wished Christians in Pakistan and all over the world a merry Christmas.
The government is striving to promote interfaith harmony and discourage religious discrimination, they said.
Explore: Christmas in Karachi: Who needs reindeer if you have camels?
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Comments (48) Closed
Dec 25, 2016 02:17pm
All very well. It is a post Zia Pakistan and it is time we dropped the Islamic Republic bit and called the country just Republic of Pakistan and changed the articles in our constitution to make Pakistanis of all faiths and no faith equal citizens and enable every capable and able Pakistani who is of any faith or no faith to become the PM or President or army chief. Faith MUST NEVER be a qualification for anything in the country.
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Dec 25, 2016 02:23pm
Merry Christmas to all our Christian brothers in Pakistan.
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Dec 25, 2016 02:25pm
Merry Xmas guys
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Dec 25, 2016 02:29pm
Merry Christmas
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Dec 25, 2016 02:38pm
Merry Christmas to all our Christian brothers and sisters :)
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Dec 25, 2016 02:58pm
Nice celebrations....... its fine.
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Dec 25, 2016 03:05pm
@Rashid Sultan pakistan is a muslim country and always will be.
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Dec 25, 2016 03:15pm
Merry Christmas to our pakistanis Christians brothers and sisters!!
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Dec 25, 2016 03:36pm
Congratulations to Christian community around the world and particularly in Pakistan.
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Dec 25, 2016 03:44pm
@Rashid Sultan what rubbish we sre an islamic country created for muslims. We live according to islam. Not man made laws. Yes we have minorities as it us out duty as muslims nd islamic law to protect them.
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Dec 25, 2016 03:46pm
merry christmas to the pakistani christain community then christain communities!, wonderful pictures of diverce cultures.
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Dec 25, 2016 04:07pm
@Khan Hi Khan no body is say change Pakistan to a christian country.
But i can assure you that if we have find any Pakistani who can bring Pakistan to next level.
I dont see any problem there?
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Dec 25, 2016 04:25pm
Merry Christmas..Peace on Earth..Goodwill towards all mankind..
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Dec 25, 2016 04:43pm
Merry Christmas to all Christians brother and sister.
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Dec 25, 2016 05:03pm
@Rashid Sultan Wonderful message. Kudos to you.
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Dec 25, 2016 05:40pm
Rashid Sultan... Great thought. Minorities are also a part of any country. Ignoring them will make them a weaker section socially and economically which can affect the overall development as a nation.May God bless u
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Dec 25, 2016 05:46pm
Khan and Ouzzy: Pl listen to the founder of Pakistan. He clearly said that the business of the state has nothing to do with faith. ALL citizens will have equal rights and responsibilities.
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Dec 25, 2016 05:55pm
Wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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Dec 25, 2016 06:11pm
Merry Christmas to all the Christians in Pakistan. Hope you all have a free and open society in the Coming years
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Dec 25, 2016 06:19pm
@Rashid Sultan ,- We as Muslim believe that Divine rule of law must prevail in our land . Islam ensures protection of all people and everyone is equal in the eyes of Justice. Please don't try to distort Muslim viewpoint.
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Dec 25, 2016 06:35pm
Merry Christmas to all our brothers and sisters. We need to have a multifaith services so that the majority can have a personal connection with all the religious groups.
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Dec 25, 2016 06:55pm
@Rashid Sultan lol . .to be productive and effective u dont need to be in power . . .otger wise ppp and pmnl would be most productive . . .
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Dec 25, 2016 07:22pm
Merry Christams to all. Congrats to Pakistan for a change in its direction!
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Dec 25, 2016 07:34pm
Wishing you all a Christmas filled with happiness and joy.
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Dec 25, 2016 07:35pm
Merry Christmas and love, peace, harmony and tolerance for all mankind!
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Dec 25, 2016 08:12pm
Glad to see religious tolerance with positive treatment of our Christian brothers and sisters.
Thanks to our brave Army and Rangers for restoring Peace and hopefully returning Pakistan to the 60's , when we were a loving, tolerant community and we were ALL PAKISTANIS FIRST.
SPECIAL THANKS to Armed Forces Ex Servicemen's Association, for providing Free Security to all the Churches across Pakistan, through their privately owned Security companies.
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Dec 25, 2016 08:19pm
@falaksay it was made for muslims and yes we have minoritues which by uslamic law we have to protect and not harm. We libe our lives according to islam. We are muslims first. Islam is our priotry remember thats why u are in this world in the first place. Islam governs our lives. It covers every aspect just like how to to deal with minorites within muslim lands.
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Dec 25, 2016 09:41pm
God bless Pakistan with peace and prosperity. Merry Christmas.
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Dec 25, 2016 10:08pm
Great to see diversity in Pakistan. All citizens have an equal right to celebrate their religion and holidays with freedom.
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Dec 25, 2016 10:44pm
Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating. It has made me extremely happy inside to see all the festivities taking place. I pray and wish for a better future for EVERY single person in this nation (aswell as the world). We humans are all equal so let us preach and practice fairness, love and peace.
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Dec 25, 2016 10:49pm
each passing year the celebration of Christmas seems more glorious than previous one.
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Dec 25, 2016 11:58pm
#Rashid , respect ur thought brother.
Yes all should have equal status. Hope the hindu and Sikh community too get their rights . Destiny made them minorities but the govt can make them equally human .
Let all faith enjoy and practice their beliefs as across ur border ,in my India.
Merry Xmas to all.
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Dec 26, 2016 12:44am
I am wishing merry christmas from Canada to all Christians in Pakistan through this America's hall of fame song that was sung by America's all time best voice more than sixty years ago and most famous christmas song even today and in future as well.
The Christmas song by Nat King Cole (died 1965)
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like eskimos
Everybody knows, a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mothers child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry christmas to you
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Dec 26, 2016 12:45am
@Rashid Sultan when Pakistan was created it was republic of Pakistan, then we changed it to Islamic republic but now it appears we do not even know what we want and for all those who are defending Islam on one of the holiest days for Christians around the world while you profusely claim th at islam calls for this and that what comes across is the absolute bigotry and hatred of others which does not project Islam in a very good light
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Dec 26, 2016 02:04am
I am a Muslim but I feel proud to celebrate Christmas today. Celebration of the birth of Christ is common and sacred to these both faiths. I am happy to be the part of the communities who love Jesus! Love and peace to humanity!
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Dec 26, 2016 04:39am
@Khan Nobody is disputing that! Please move over & move along & let all other religions celebrate - let there be peace harmony & good will towards all religious Sects in Pakistan & throughout the world.
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Dec 26, 2016 07:25am
Nice to see christmass event went peacefully. Minorities are equal Pakistani citizens.
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Dec 26, 2016 11:39am
Merry Christmas to all the Christians. Hope it is peaceful and joyful
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Dec 26, 2016 12:39pm
Merry Christmas to all Christian brothers and sisters.
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Dec 26, 2016 01:14pm
@Khan Yes it is! Just want to remind you the white strip on our flag represent minorities.
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Dec 26, 2016 01:20pm
Please note that Islam recognises all religions, and we are all children of Adam and Eve therefore related to each other! Misbehaviour of certain people in Pakistan has absolutely nothing to do with Islam or with general Public.
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Dec 26, 2016 01:30pm
Thank you for the sincere well wishes and the generally positive and accepting nature of all of your comments regarding Christmas. I'd like to say, as an American, I really enjoy reading your paper and gaining insight into your country and people. When reading the day-to-day news, it's pretty clear to me that most of us (the working class of both societies) have far more in common than either of our governments would have us believe. I guess there is power to be had from dividing people. Pointing out our few, and rather meaningless, differences rather than the overwhelming, and much more substantial similarities. It's a shame.
Happy Holidays to Pakistan.
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Dec 26, 2016 02:13pm
thanks to project
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Dec 26, 2016 02:35pm
@Rashid Sultan wish Pakistan changes for better in your way. Pre1980 Pakistan was really progressive on all fronts. It's time to change again.
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Dec 26, 2016 06:30pm
God is for everyone, not only the Muslims. I am thrilled to see this.
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Dec 27, 2016 01:48pm
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all Christian Nation.
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Dec 27, 2016 02:08pm
Brave People. Salute
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Dec 28, 2016 12:47am
Great pictures. Though I made me sad to note that the Christian neighbourhoods are mostly shanty towns. I wish all Pakistanis live in decent and clean houses.
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