Pakistani Christians manage to celebrate Christmas

by Aftab Mughal
Thursday, January 01, 2009

The Christian community in Pakistan celebrated the birthday of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day 2008 with its usual fervor. Due to the security situation in the country, the government took special measures to protect the Christmas prayer services. The government announced an optional vacation for the day after Christmas for government servants belonging to the Christian community. Despite the government’s declaration of two holidays for Christmas, most Christians went to work.

Through his special Christmas message, President Asif Ali Zardari emphasized the need for inter-faith dialogue and harmony among people belonging to different religions and said the government would protect the rights of minorities in the country. “Let me also reiterate on this occasion the pledge made by the government that it will continue to uphold the rights of the Christians, indeed of all minorities, to be treated as equal citizens of the state and allowed to partake in its development on an equal footing,” President Zardari said. the rest