Greeting the Christian community on Easter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that she dreams of a Pakistan where the minority and majority live peacefully and jointly.
She was the first CM of Punjab to visit the Maryamabad Church in 131 years, participate in the festivities and disburse Easter grant.
The chief minister said she dreamt of a country “where everyone can enjoy freedom to worship and get complete protection as well. Where no one can harm anyone on the basis of religion and faith. We would stop every hand which is aimed to do any harm to the minorities”.
During the visit to a residential area of the Christian community on the suburbs of Sheikhupura, the chief minister presented Easter grant cheques to the families.
She mingled among the women and enquired from them as to what did they cook and which clothes did they prepare for the Easter Day.
She also cut the Easter cake jointly with Christian leaders.
At least 10,000 Christian families have been granted Rs5,000 Eidi each across Punjab.
Addressing the Easter ceremony, she said she and former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had visited the homes of municipal workers in Faisalabad to condole their deaths in an accident.
It was the responsibility of the government to provide safety equipment to the sanitary workers, she stressed.
The CM said she had studied at the Convent of Jesus and Mary for 11 years. The school headmistress expressed her joy over her student becoming the chief minister.
The CM said his father stated that it was inappropriate to label the other communities as minorities.
She said that when Ramesh Singh Arora became the first Sikh provincial minister, messages of greeting were received from across the globe. “When we all stand up to show respect for the national anthem then our mutual difference ends,” she added.
She appreciated the services of the Christian community for the progress of Pakistan.
She stated that she had come to participate in the Easter festivities along with all the minority legislators.
She stated that she felt pleased to witness neat and clean houses in the area.
In her message on the occasion, the chief minister stated, “Easter teaches us the values of compassion, forgiveness and love for all.”
She said, “Christians are a peace-loving and respectable community. Their role is commendable for the development of Pakistan since its inception. Pakistan is a homeland of all of us regardless of race, religion, caste and creed.”
She added, “The festival of Easter will promote the spirit of harmony and humanity in the society.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2024.
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