ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT): Chairman of Pakistan Cultural Forum, Secretary General UBG (FPCCI), and former President ICCI, Zafar Bakhtawari, hosted a grand Christmas celebration in Islamabad to promote traditional harmony and interfaith unity. The event was attended by over 70 pastors from various churches, prominent individuals from the Christian community, and other distinguished personalities.
President of Clean and Green Islamabad Movement, Member Central Core Committee UBG, and former President ICCI, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Advisor to the Punjab Government on Health Zahid Bakhtawari, and Director of D. Watson Group Abid Bakhtawari co-hosted the event. Senior Vice President ICCI Nasir Chaudhry, ICCI Executive Members Waseem Chaudhry, Ruheel Anwar Butt, Malik Mohsin Khalid, Nisar Mirza, Faizan Shehzad, Ameer Hamza, Chaudhry Ashraf Farzand, Pastor Samson Sohail, Pastor Malik Kamran, Bishop Javed Siddiq, Bishop Farrukh Javed, and others also attended.
The event commenced with prayers for peace, love, and prosperity in the country. This was followed by the traditional Christmas cake-cutting ceremony, which was a highlight of the event and fostered feelings of joy and unity among the attendees.
Zafar Bakhtawari, in his speech, said, “Minorities are an integral part of our nation. Together, we must work for the progress and prosperity of our country. Christmas conveys the message of love, brotherhood, and peace, and the Bakhtawari family has always strived to spread this message.”
Addressing the gathering, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari extended his Christmas greetings to the Christian community, saying, “Christmas is a message of peace, joy, and hope. We must embody this message in our lives and promote social harmony by sharing each other’s joys and sorrows. The Bakhtawari family has always upheld the tradition of expressing solidarity with minorities and celebrating their happiness.”
He further emphasized the importance of interfaith harmony in Pakistan, stating, “We must work together to build a society where love, peace, and brotherhood flourish in every heart. Today, we pledge to make every effort to promote harmony and unity among all religions and communities.”
Nasir Chaudhry congratulated the Christian community and said, “Religious harmony is a part of our culture. We stand together and work for a stronger and peaceful Pakistan.”
Pastor Samson Sohail elaborated on the purpose of the event, saying, “This celebration is not just about joy but about fostering love and solidarity between the Muslim and Christian communities. We must respect each other’s sentiments and traditions.”
During the event, several pastors and representatives of the Christian community expressed their gratitude to the Bakhtawari family, acknowledging that such events promote unity and love in society. Pastor Noble John remarked, “We are thankful to the Bakhtawari family for providing us a platform where we can come together and celebrate. This event symbolizes the coexistence of people from different faiths in Pakistan with love and tolerance.”
The event concluded with the distribution of gifts among attendees and a grand dinner. The celebration further strengthened the spirit of interfaith harmony and brotherhood among the people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
