Islamabad: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) organized a Cake Cutting ceremony to celebrate the Merry Christmas with the Christian community. Mahesh Kumar Malani, former Minister of State for National Health Services was the Chief Guest and Archbishop Dr. Joseph Arshad was the Guest of Honor. Pastor Samson Sohail, Pastor Babar Waris, Ch. Ashraf Farzand Convener ICCI Interfaith Committee, Jamil Khokhar, Maqbool Khokhar, Sharon Masih, Simon Shehzad, Ms. Tehmina Tariq, Shahzad Safdar, Sharoon Arif, Emmanuel Siraj, Tanveer Bhatti, Ch. Junaid Ashraf, Azhar Anwar, Asif Pervez Cilo, Michael Gill, and a large number of people from the Christian community attended the event. Ambassador of Azerbaijan H.E. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of Syria H.E. Dr. Ramez Alraee, Ambassador of Nepal H.E. Tapas Adhikari, Ambassador of Myanmar H.E. Win Myint, Counsellors of Sri Lanka and Egypt and others were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the ceremony, Mahesh Kumar Malani former Minister of State for National Health Services said that Christians and other minorities in Pakistan are enjoying better protection of their rights and do not feel any insecurity. He said that armed forces, judiciary and all institutions in Pakistan are fully cooperating with the minorities while minorities in India are facing oppression. He said that a certain mindset wants to destroy the image of Pakistan, but we all would foil them. He lauded ICCI for celebrating Merry Christmas Day and added that such events contribute to promoting interfaith harmony in the country.
Speaking at the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the Christian community is playing an important role in the economic development of Pakistan, which is laudable. He said that Christians around the world are gearing up to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ who was a symbol of peace, brotherhood, and respect for the entire humanity. He said that Jesus Christ not only healed the ailing humanity, but he also preached the divine values of tolerance, love, and compassion, which are kept in high esteem in Islam as well. He said that Pakistan needs the adoption of these values to emerge as a strong country. He assured that ICCI would continue to play a role in promoting the business interests of all communities so that they could play a more effective role in the economic development of the country.
H.E. Dr.Ramez Alraee, Ambassador of Syria lauded ICCI for organizing the Christmas ceremony and stressed promoting love, tolerance, and generosity to cooperation among nations and make the world peaceful.
H.E. H.E. Tapas Adhikari, Ambassador of Nepal said that Merry Christmas is now a global festival, which promotes interfaith harmony. He said that Pakistan is providing space to minorities to celebrate their religious festivals and preserving the sites of all religions, which is laudable. Such initiatives would also promote tourism and business activities in Pakistan, he said.
Zafar Bakhtawari, former President ICCI and Chairman Pakistan Cultural Forum said that all minorities including Christians enjoy equal rights in Pakistan and all should work hard for the better development of Pakistan. He wished the Christian community a Merry Christmas.
Archbishop Dr. Joseph Arshad and Pastor Samson Sohail read the message of Jesus Christ for conciliation, love, and forgiveness and added that such events promoted inter-faith harmony & unity in the country.
Ch. Ashraf Farzand Convener ICCI Interfaith Harmony Committee and Pastor Petros Joseph thanked ICCI for organizing the Merry Christmas ceremony for the Christian community. They said that Christmas was an occasion to promote love and peace. They assured of their cooperation to ICCI in initiatives focused on promoting the interests of minorities.
