LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that her government is turning the province into a place where no community should face any kind of fear, intimidation or threat.

“I am paying special attention to establishing a safe society for the Christian community. It is a matter of great rejoice that such a Punjab is being established, where we celebrate Eid, Christmas, Easter, Diwali and all other festivals,” she said at a Christmas ceremony here on Wednesday.

She said that like Christmas, Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary, Baisakhi and Holi are also celebrated in Punjab.

“For the first time in the history of Pakistan, a ‘Minority Card’ is being launched. It will provide financial assistance to the needy minority brothers and sisters every three months for living a decent life. The ‘Minority Card’ will be launched in the beginning of the next year.”

She thanked the Christian community for including her in their festivities.

“I felt overjoyed to participate in the colourful Christmas ceremony. I studied for 11 years in the Convent of Jesus and Mary, I received education among nuns, sisters and fathers. At the Christmas ceremony, I remembered my student days spent at the Convent of Jesus and Mary. Every year, when there was a Christmas ceremony at the Convent of Jesus and Mary, the Christmas choir used to stand in the front line for presentation. The girls and children present at the Christmas ceremony all look beautiful,” she added.

She said the Christian community acknowledged that after 120 years a chief minister had come to celebrate Easter in Maryamabad Church.

“My entire focus is on establishing a better Pakistan and a better Punjab for the minority communities. The Christian community has made great contributions to the development and progress of Pakistan. The budget for the Christian community has been increased by 200 per cent. Increasing the budget of the Christian community is not a favour but rather their due right. We will provide as much financial assistance as we can to the minority community so that the poor minority brothers and sisters do not have to ask for alms to anyone. The state is like a mother.”

She said all communities had an equal share in every project of the Punjab government.

She said she came to know that 10,000 people participated in the Christmas ceremony, so she brought as many cakes as it is a small gesture from her for the Christian community.

On the occasion, Bishop Irfan Jamil recited the prayer and Pastor Salik Jan Barkat presented the Christmas message. A Punjabi Christmas prayer song was also presented in the ceremony.

Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora also addressed the ceremony.

AZMA: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the government would restore the vibrant environment at every theatre and arts council in Punjab.

“For a long time, there has been no work on Punjab’s culture, now there is a dire need to promote it.”

Ms Bokhari said Christmas was a moment of joy for the minority brothers and sisters.

“We must showcase the beautiful and peaceful face of Pakistan to the entire world.”

During the ceremony, Azma Bokhari and other members of the provincial cabinet cut three separate cakes to mark the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, birthday of PML-N supremo Mian Nawaz Sharif and on Christmas.

ACE: Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab Director General Sohail Zafar Chattha addressed a gathering in connection with Christmas at the ACE headquarters here on Wednesday.

Additional Director General Waqas Al Hassan was also present.

Mr Chattha cut the Christmas cake with Christian employees and distributed gifts among them. He expressed best wishes to the Christian community and said that Quaid-e-Azam’s address to the First Constituent Assembly on 11th August 1947 is a guiding principle for all of us and according to his vision all minorities have equal rights in Pakistan.

The protection of the minorities’ identity is the primary responsibility of all of us, he added.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2024