Govt, welfare organisations spread cheer on Diwali

Festival of lights symbolizes victory of good over evil

KARACHI:

Sindh government and various welfare organization joined the Hindu Community in celebrating the annual Diwali festival.

Former President of the State and President of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians Asif Ali Zardari said Diwali symbolises victory of good over evil.

The founding leaders of PPP Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto always supported religious freedom. And advocated the rights of non-Muslim Pakistani citizens, Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan is a country of all citizens. PP Women Wing Central President and MPA Faryal Talpur in her message said Diwali is a symbol of light, joy, peace and unity.

Meanwhile, various welfare and politicl organisations have marked Diwali ceremonies to celebrate the event with the flood-hit Hindu community.

In this regard, Alkhidmat Community Services Program organised special events in temples across Sindh ahead of Diwali festival, distributing gifts containing; food packages, hygiene kits, mosquito nets and shoes among 500 flood-stricken Hindu families in Sukkur. In addition, Alkhidmat set up a free Tuck shop for children, distributing cooked-food among the attendees.

Special events for distribution of Diwali gifts were organized in temples across the province simultaneously in Sukkur, Kandhkot, Thar, Jacobabad, Mirpur Khas, Umarkot and Tando Allah Yar. A total of 2,000 food packages, 3,700 pairs of shoes and 2,000 mosquito nets were distributed during the events. A woman Seeta, resident of Town Chak, Lakhi Ghulam Shah also received Dewali gift in the event. She said that her house destroyed in rains, no one to earn for her, after the catastrophe of deluge she even couldn't think about the happiness of Dewali but because of Alkhidmat now it would be possible.

Another flood affected man Bhoromul said that he is daily wage earner it is hard to celebrate religious ritual Diwali and this time due to deluge it is almost impossible for him. He thanked to Alkhidmat which made it possible for his family to celebrate Diwali.

While addressing on the occasion, Senior Vice President Alkhidmat Foundation, Syed Ehsan Ullah Waqas said that celebrating happiness is right of all human beings. It is very important that we all should actively participate in celebrations of such people who might be deprived of their happiness for any reason whatsoever. "One-third of Pakistan is badly hit by the unprecedented floods, also causing severe crises for Hindu communities across the country," he commiserated. Pointing towards the importance of such events, said that this is a message for the outer world that minorities are equal citizens of Pakistan. He said that Alkhidmat has also established a special platform namely 'Alkhidmat Minority Wing', involving Christian, Hindu and Sikh members from all four provinces including Azad Kashmir, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan, Karachi and Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2022.