LAHORE: Governor Chaudhry Sarwar on Monday cut a Christmas cake and felicitated the Christian community.

The governor was accompanied by MNA Shunila Ruth, MPA Haroon Imran Gill and other Christian leaders.

In his message, the governor said the minorities were enjoying equal rights and wanted to have cordial relations with the neighbouring countries. He said the Kartarpur corridor would help in confidence building between Pakistan and India.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan was striving to ensure that no one should sleep hungry and poverty as well as joblessness be rooted out.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Ruth said the Jesus Christ had given a message of love and peace and advised people to spread it. She said the prime minister was all out to ensure due rights for minorities, women and children. “The PTI government is clear on giving equal rights to the minorities and PM Imran Khan has announced observing Christmas at official level,” she said.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also congratulated the Christian community on their holy festival of Christmas. He said the Christmas provided an opportunity to promote mutual love, affection and bilateral relations.

In line with the injunctions of Islam, he said the respect and honour of all the Prophets of Allah Almighty is our religious obligation and faith on Jesus Christ and all other Prophets is an integral part of Islam. Promotion of brotherhood, tolerance, harmony, love and affection is the essence of the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Mr Buzdar said the role of Christian community in national development, service of ailing humanity as well as promotion of education along with their patriotism were beyond any doubt.

Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Aijaz Alam Augustine, in his Christmas message, said the birthday of Jesus Christ is sacred and holy for Christians as well as Muslims. He said the chief minister had announced a grant of Rs30 million on the occasion of Christmas and Rs25m for the scholarship of minority students across the province. He also wished the Quiad-i-Azam Day to the entire nation.

Punjab Information and Culture Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ was being celebrated at national level to express solidarity with the minorities.

“Every citizen has equal rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan irrespective of colour, creed and ethnicity. The Punjab government is promoting a true image of the country in which all citizens will have equal rights,” he said.

The minister was addressing a cake-cutting ceremony held in connection with Christmas at DGPR office on Monday, which was attended by Christian employees in large numbers. He said the Punjab government was making all-out efforts to remove sense of deprivation and alienation amongst minorities and driving them towards national mainstream.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2018