4,000 personnel deployed to ensure Christmas security

Christian community has planned special programmes for the joyous occasion

RAWALPINDI: Christmas preparations are in full swing in the garrison town of Rawalpindi with stalls selling Christmas props besides trees at various markets in the city.

The Christian community is visiting city markets for shopping for their major festival whereas police have finalised a foolproof security plan under which 4,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure safety of citizens.

To celebrate the festival with religious fervour, Christian community is preparing and has organised special programmes in different areas including church congregations.

Cake cutting ceremony, setting up of Christmas trees,distribution of sweets among children by Santa Claus and Christmas choral competition among church choirs in which a large number of people will participate.



While preparing for Christmas, the Christians living in town renew their spirit of celebrating Christmas which continues throughout the month.

The traditions related to Christmas include decoration of Christmas tree, Santa Claus, carol singing and Christmas gifts.

From official gatherings to cake cutting ceremonies in small communities, the joyous occasion fills the atmosphere with colours, symbols and traditions of Christmas.

The members of the Christian community are preparing for this festivity to signify the birth of Jesus Christ through lighting up the Christmas tree with a cheerful mood.

Christians have decorated the Christmas evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial using different ornaments including baubles, small bells painted gold or silver, stars of different shapes and sizes, pine cones,apples, candies, tinsels and balloons made from glass, metal, wood and ceramic with the start of December.

Churches are also being decorated with fairy lights, colourful bulbs and the traditional Christmas tree.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi district police have finalised a comprehensive plan to ensure security on Christmas.

According to a police spokesman, all the security arrangements have been finalised for peaceful observance of Christmas on December 25.

At least 4,000 security personnel including female police, special branch and elite force would be deployed in the district to ensure tight security arrangements at Churches and other public places.

The police personnel under the supervision of three Superintendents of Police, 11 Deputy Superintendentsand 21 SHOs would ensure security on Christmas, he said adding, no one would be allowed to park their vehicles near churches, while walk-through gates would be installed at the entrance of the churches.

Proper checking of the visitors would be conducted using metal detectors, he added.

Apart from churches, police personnel would be deployed at public places including parks, he said and informed that the security had also been tightened at the entry and exit pointsof the city with special checking ordered for the special occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2018.