Christian community gears up for Christmas celebrations

Special deployment of policemen will be ensured at churches, public places


Noor Soomro December 19, 2018
PHOTO: FILE

RAHIM YAR KHAN:  

Like in other cities across the country, the Christian community in Rahim Yar Khan is also making arrangements for Christmas, Express News has learnt. Much like Easter, Christmas is considered an important holiday among Christians.

As part of the preparations, Christmas trees have been decorated in homes, while individuals have started visiting churches in large numbers.

As the day (December 25) is just around the corner, the Christian community has started thronging shopping malls in order to buy new clothes and gifts for their relatives.

According to a local resident Gregory Taqveem, Christmas starts from the night of December 24 and ends on the evening of December 25. “On Christmas, Christian communities worship at more than 250 churches across Punjab, including 31 in Rahim Yar Khan, 30 in Bahawalpur, 14 in Bahawal Nagar and 75 in Bahawalpur Division”, he said.
He elaborated that they pray for their loved ones and for the betterment of the country. Christmas preparations will reach their climax when church bells ring and hymns are sung during midnight mass on December 24. Meanwhile, churches are decked out with arches, buntings and bells. Christmas trees are also being placed in hotels.

Keeping in view the law and order situation, the police have devised an effective security plan for Christmas and special deployment will be ensured at Churches and public places.

Bahawalpur RPO Imran Mehmood and Rahim Yar Khan DPO Umer Farooq Salamat ordered police officials to make strict security arrangements at 15 churches which have been declared sensitive. These include Catholic, and PCF churches.

For this purpose, the SHOs of different police stations have been directed to increase patrolling in their respective areas, while SDPOs were instructed to maintain strict surveillance in order to thwart any terrorist activity.

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