ARTS / CULTURE & LEISURE
Christians in Pakistan revel Pakistan revel in holiday joy
Dressed as Santa Claus in a busy neighborhood of the Rawalpindi district on Christmas Eve, 12-year-old Rashid Anwar was in seventh heaven while decorating his street with fairy lights, candles, Christmas wreaths and other exquisite ornaments.
"I had been anxiously waiting for Christmas as it is one of the festivals that brings along happiness, peace and contentment, not only for Christians but for all the communities of the country," Anwar told the Xinhua News Agency gleefully.
"My siblings and I have bought new clothes, shoes and toys, and we will be sharing our joy with other children of our area by distributing gifts and food among them," he said.
The festivities of Christmas are in full swing across the world including Pakistan, where the occasion is a source of immense pleasure for the Christian community, which celebrates the festival by indulging in extravagant shopping, holding family get-togethers, and splendid banquets.
Markets, public spots, parks and restaurants are crowded with people engaged in merrymaking. Special prayers are being offered in churches for peace and prosperity of the country.
To ensure a peaceful atmosphere and maintain law and order on Christmas Day, the law enforcement agencies in Pakistan have made fool-proof security arrangements in all the major cities of the country, according to government officials.
Felicitating the Christian community in Pakistan and around the world on the auspicious occasion of Christmas, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Christmas gave a message of universal love, brotherhood, tolerance, and sacrifice, which played a crucial role in putting society on the path of development.
He said that the Christian community in Pakistan plays a positive role in every walk of life including defense, judiciary and education, and contributed to the progress and development of the country.
"This country belongs to us all and on the occasion of Christmas let us pledge to make Pakistan an example of religious tolerance, brotherhood and peace and play our role to take it out of difficulties," Sharif added.
Talking to Xinhua, Perveen Razia, a private company manager in federal capital Islamabad, said that being a Christian and a resident of a Muslim-dominated country like Pakistan, she never felt the Christmas holidays are less cheery or festive as the whole nation gets into a celebratory mood, sharing the joy and festivities of the occasion.
"My Muslim neighbor has sent us gifts and sweets in the morning and also invited us for a Christmas dinner at their house," said the 40-year-old mother of two children.
"The love, kindness and cordiality shown by them have won our hearts completely."
"I had been anxiously waiting for Christmas as it is one of the festivals that brings along happiness, peace and contentment, not only for Christians but for all the communities of the country," Anwar told the Xinhua News Agency gleefully.
"My siblings and I have bought new clothes, shoes and toys, and we will be sharing our joy with other children of our area by distributing gifts and food among them," he said.
The festivities of Christmas are in full swing across the world including Pakistan, where the occasion is a source of immense pleasure for the Christian community, which celebrates the festival by indulging in extravagant shopping, holding family get-togethers, and splendid banquets.
Markets, public spots, parks and restaurants are crowded with people engaged in merrymaking. Special prayers are being offered in churches for peace and prosperity of the country.
To ensure a peaceful atmosphere and maintain law and order on Christmas Day, the law enforcement agencies in Pakistan have made fool-proof security arrangements in all the major cities of the country, according to government officials.
Felicitating the Christian community in Pakistan and around the world on the auspicious occasion of Christmas, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Christmas gave a message of universal love, brotherhood, tolerance, and sacrifice, which played a crucial role in putting society on the path of development.
He said that the Christian community in Pakistan plays a positive role in every walk of life including defense, judiciary and education, and contributed to the progress and development of the country.
"This country belongs to us all and on the occasion of Christmas let us pledge to make Pakistan an example of religious tolerance, brotherhood and peace and play our role to take it out of difficulties," Sharif added.
Talking to Xinhua, Perveen Razia, a private company manager in federal capital Islamabad, said that being a Christian and a resident of a Muslim-dominated country like Pakistan, she never felt the Christmas holidays are less cheery or festive as the whole nation gets into a celebratory mood, sharing the joy and festivities of the occasion.
"My Muslim neighbor has sent us gifts and sweets in the morning and also invited us for a Christmas dinner at their house," said the 40-year-old mother of two children.
"The love, kindness and cordiality shown by them have won our hearts completely."
RELATED ARTICLES
