PM Imran wishes Christian community 'Happy Christmas'

Please stay safe by observing Covid-19 SOPs, advises premier as contagion sees uptick in the country

On the eve of Xmas, Prime Minister Imran Khan has wished the Christian community in Pakistan a happy Christmas.

"Wishing all our Christian citizens a very Happy Christmas. Please stay safe by observing COVID 19 SOPs," he wrote on his official Twitter handle on Thursday.

Wishing all our Christian citizens a very Happy Christmas. Please stay safe by observing COVID 19 SOPs.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 24, 2020

 

Hundreds of millions of Christians world over mark December 25th as Christ’s birthday.

The Christian community in Pakistan has started thronging shopping malls in order to buy new clothes and gifts for their relatives.

The community is also busy decorating their houses with Christmas trees, while events related to the occasion have been organised at various locations.

In Lahore, Christmas preparations in 97 churches of the provincial capital have been completed. These include Catholic, Protestant and other missionary churches. In the provincial capital, the biggest ceremony for the Catholic school of thought will be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Lawrence Road. Meanwhile, the largest event for Protestants will be organised at the Cathedral Church on Mall Road.

Similarly, Christmas events will be organised at St Anthony’s Church, Naulakha Church and others where Christian leaders will hold prayers for the country's prosperity and safety.

The community in Islamabad, like other parts of the country, has started decorating evergreen coniferous tree to celebrate the biggest occasion Christmas in befitting manner.

The popular malls and hotels in the federal capital have also placed the decorated Christmas tree to share happiness of the Christian community to lure the visitors.

Christmas tree is the main symbol of the Christmas celebrations to welcome arrival of Santa Claus and to add colour to the festival with its attractive decorative look.

The members of Christian community decorate the evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, as a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tree is usually decked with different ornaments including baubles, small bells painted gold or silver, stars of different shapes and sizes, pine cones, apples, candies, tinsel and balloons made from glass, metal, wood and ceramic. An angel and star is often placed at the top of the tree representing the host of angels.

In Karachi, the port city's Commissioner Navid Ahmed Shaikh ordered the relevant authorities to ensure fool-proof security arrangements at churches for Christmas celebrations.

Chairing a meeting with the authorities and representatives of the Christian community on Monday, the new commissioner also instructed officials to carry out special cleaning campaigns and the provision of other civic facilities ahead of the annual festival.

He also directed the K-Electric to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the churches and other important locations, so the Christian community could celebrate Christmas without hassle.

Shaikh further asked deputy commissioners (DCs) to stay in touch with community representatives with regard to the provision of facilities and other arrangements, also telling them to set up complaint centres.