Interfaith cycle ride highlights city heritage

Participants pass through historical sites of Walled City

LAHORE:

An Interfaith Cycling Heritage Ride was organised in Lahore as part of Christmass celebrations.

The ride was led by Punjab Minorities Affairs Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora.

Citizens belonging to the Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities took part in the event.

The ride began at the Naulakha Church and passed through several historical sites of the Walled City, highlighting Lahore's cultural heritage.

Addressing the participants, the minister said the presence of followers of different religions in the heart of Lahore reflected the true identity of Pakistan.

He said people of all faiths in the country live together with mutual respect and peace.

The minister said the eighth day of the Christmas celebrations had begun with a demonstration of interfaith harmony and the cycling ride had emerged as a symbol of peace and brotherhood.

He added that, for the first time in history, an eight-kilometre-long Christmas rally had been organised on the Mall Road at the start of the celebrations to convey a positive message about Pakistan to the world.

Sardar Ramesh Singh said that Christmas conveys a message of joy, peace and religious harmony, and acknowledged the role of the Christian community in the development of Pakistan since its inception.

He said concrete steps were being taken to protect religious minorities' rights, enabling them to observe their rituals and festivals freely.

He announced that as part of the 12-day celebrations, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif would cut a Christmas cake on Monday.