Pakistan’s prime minister pledged on Thursday to promote interfaith harmony and protect minority rights as Christians across the country marked Christmas, one of the most important dates on the Christian calendar.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said safeguarding religious freedom and equal rights for all citizens, particularly minorities, remained a key priority for his government.
Millions of Christians worldwide celebrate Dec. 25 as the birth of Jesus Christ, observing the day with religious services, family gatherings and cultural festivities.
In Pakistan, the Christian community marks Christmas each year by decorating churches and homes, distributing gifts, singing carols and hosting communal meals.
Christianity is the third-largest religion in Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country of more than 240 million people. According to the 2023 national census, over three million Christians live in Pakistan, accounting for about 1.3% of the population.
Despite their long presence, Christians have faced institutionalized discrimination in Pakistan. Community members have reported being targeted by blasphemy accusations, as well as cases of abductions and forced conversions to Islam.
Christians have also frequently complained of being restricted to jobs widely viewed as low status, including work as sewage cleaners or brick kiln laborers.
“It remains a key priority of the Government of Pakistan to ensure interfaith harmony, protection of rights and freedoms, economic well-being, and equal opportunities for professional growth for all citizens without discrimination of religion, race, or ethnicity,” Shehbaz said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The prime minister said Christmas was not only a religious occasion but also carried a “universal message of love, peace, tolerance, and goodwill” for humanity.
He said the Christian community’s contributions to Pakistan’s social and economic development were significant. “Their services in education, health care and other fields have greatly contributed to the promotion of social harmony,” Shehbaz said.
President Asif Ali Zardari also extended greetings to Christian citizens in Pakistan and to Christian communities worldwide, describing Christmas as a time of hope, peace and compassion.
Zardari recalled the vision of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who advocated freedom and equality for all citizens regardless of religion.
Citing Jinnah’s address to Pakistan’s first Constituent Assembly on Aug. 11, 1947, Zardari said the speech remained a powerful affirmation of the country’s commitment to religious freedom and mutual respect.
He said Christians in Pakistan had made notable contributions to politics, national defense, education, literature, arts, music, health care, social welfare and public service.
Zardari also referred to S P Singha, a prominent Christian political figure in Pakistan’s early history, and recalled Cecil Chaudhry, a celebrated war hero and fighter pilot.
He reiterated that Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees equal rights and freedom of religion for every citizen.
Pakistan’s military also issued a Christmas message. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s media wing, said the armed forces extended heartfelt greetings to the Christian community and reaffirmed their commitment to Jinnah’s vision of equal rights and religious harmony.
Celebrations across Pakistan
Christians across Pakistan celebrated Christmas on Thursday with religious devotion and traditional festivities, according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency.
Churches were decorated with Christmas trees and lights, and worshippers offered prayers for peace, prosperity and national well-being.
In Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, prayer services were held in churches as security was tightened around Christian places of worship. At St. Patrick’s Church in the Saddar area, congregants marked the festival with enthusiasm.
In Lahore, celebrations began at midnight, with churches illuminated by multicolored lights.
At Cathedral Church near Regal Chowk, large crowds attended Christmas services and offered prayers for the country’s progress.
A major ceremony was also held at St. Luke Cathedral Church in Shahdara, where Father Irfan Yousaf led prayers. A 100-pound cake was cut, Christmas songs were sung and a fireworks display was held.
Participants said Christmas was a day to promote love, peace and brotherhood.
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