Christian community of Pakistan celebrated Christmas

Christian Community, like elsewhere in the world celebrated Christmas in Pakistan on Saturday

Special services were held in Churches and prayers were offered for peace, progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan in their separate messages, while congratulating the Christian community on the occasion of Christmas, have assured that the government will continue to safeguard rights and privileges of all minorities living in the country.

They also commended sincere and invaluable services rendered by Christian community in the fields of defence, education, health as well as economic development of the country.

They said that the government will empower the minorities to use their abilities for national development.

Pope Francis, leading the world's Roman Catholics into Christmas, has urged people around the world to look beyond all the lights and decorations and remember the neediest.

A special Christmas cake cutting ceremony was held at Radio Pakistan, Lahore.

On this occasion, Assistant News Editor Shazia Mushtaq cut the Christmas cake.

Station Director Nazakat Shakila ,Controller News (Punjab) Sajjad Parvez, Deputy Controller News Ather Rasool, officers and staff of News Bureau Lahore attended the ceremony while former Director News Haroon ur Rashid Abbasi, Former Controller News Muhammad Abrahim Kawan and former DCN Zahid Riffat besides other retired staff also graced the ceremony.

Speaking the gathering, speakers expressed that interfaith harmony and tolerance are necessary to ensure peaceful atmosphere in any society. Speakers lauded services of Christian community for progress in various sectors specially education.

On the occasion, prayers were sought for security, safety, progress and prosperity of the country and nation.

Source: Radio Pakistan

On Quaid’s day, PM emphasizes youth to adopt Quaid’s attributes of honesty, hard work, perseverance

The nation celebrated 146th birthday of Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on Saturday with renewed pledge to work hard for progress and prosperity of the country.

Qur'an Khawani and a change of guards ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi.

Commandant Pakistan Military Academy Major General Umar Ahmed Bukhari was the chief guest on this occasion. Cadets of Pakistan Military Academy assumed the charge of guards.

A number of events, including seminars, debates and exhibitions, were held both at official and civil society levels to highlight life, achievements and different aspects of personality of the Quaid-e-Azam.

Radio Pakistan also broadcasted special programmes, discussions, interviews and reports to highlight different phases of independence struggle and leadership role played by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

President Dr Arif Alvi has urged countrymen to follow guiding principles of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's to make Pakistan a great nation.

In his message on the Quaid Day, he said the Father of the Nation made the utmost struggle for the independence of the Muslims of the subcontinent.

He said due to his tireless efforts, capabilities, determination, and extraordinary character, the Quaid-e-Azam materialized his dream of the creation of Pakistan.

The president said that in order to cope with the prevailing challenges, the nation should follow Quaid's golden principles of Faith, Unity and Discipline.

PM emphasizes youth to adopt Quaid’s attributes of honesty, hard work, perseverance.

Prime Minister Imran Khan in his message on the occasion of birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has emphasized upon youth to adopt Quaid’s attributes of honesty, hard work, perseverance and dedication.

He said we as a nation need to adopt these attributes to realize Quaid’s vision of a developed, progressive and tolerant Pakistan.

The Prime Minister said Muhammad Ali Jinnah realized importance of a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent where all citizens could enjoy freedom of faith, occupation and equal opportunities.

Meanwhile in tweet today (Saturday) , Director General, Inter Services Public Relations, Babar Iftikhar has said Quaid's vision of a peaceful and progressive Pakistan and his principles of unity, faith and discipline are imperative for our success as a nation.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says Pakistan can make robust development by following golden principles advocated by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Talking to newsmen after visiting mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi today, he said our national leader was protector of the rights of minorities. The Interior Minister also laid a floral wreath on the mausoleum and offered Fateha.

A report released by Kashmir Media Service on Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's birth anniversary

The Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, made concerted efforts to get Kashmir liberated from India's illegal occupation because he considered Pakistan incomplete without Jammu and Kashmir.

A report released by Kashmir Media Service on his birth anniversary, today, said that his commitment with the people of Kashmir was indefatigable.

The report said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah vociferously condemned the Indian aggression on Kashmir by looking at the miserable conditions of Kashmiris even when there was no one else paying heed to their hues and cries.

It maintained that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had rightly declared Kashmir as Pakistan's jugular vein and was determined to go to any extent for freedom of Kashmir.

The report made it clear that Quaid-e-Azam supported the Kashmiris' cause even before Pakistan's independence and had correctly pointed out that Muslims needed a separate state to secure their future in the sub-continent.

Meanwhile, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, in a statement issued in Srinagar today, strongly condemned the upsurge in cordon and search operations during the cold nights and days to suppress the freedom sentiments of the people of Kashmir.

It was the dynamic and charismatic leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who made possible the creation of biggest Muslim state of the world namely Pakistan at the end of fourth decade of last century.

Here is a short audio package to pay homage to the father of the Nation in connection with his birth celebrations prepared by our Lahore Correspondent Sajjad Parvez.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Fawad, Fakhar urge youth to follow in footsteps of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain says Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched several social protection programs for the uplift of downtrodden segments of society in line with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Speaking in a program of Radio Pakistan's News and Current Affairs Channel on Saturday, the Information Minister urged the youth to follow in the footsteps of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Taking part in the program, Minister for Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam said youth of Pakistan needs to follow the guiding principles propagated by father of the nation to cope with the current challenges.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan playing role of bridge b/w Afghan govt, int’l community: Ambassador Mansoor

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan says Pakistan is playing role of a bridge between Afghan government and international community to address issues of an inclusive government, human rights, rule of law and counter terrorism in Afghanistan.

Talking to a select group of journalists in Islamabad, he stressed the need for constructive dialogue between Afghan government and international community to resolve these issues.

The Pakistani envoy said both sides should find out middle way of approach by showing flexibility in their stances regarding these issues, and come to the point which is in the interest of both the Afghan people as well as international community.

He said Pakistan has been stressing for peace and stability in Afghanistan since Kabul's takeover by Taliban in August last.

To a question, he said the Afghan government has assured that the Afghan soil would not be used against any other country, including Pakistan.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan strongly condemns launch of hostile projectiles towards KSA

Pakistan has strongly condemned the launch of hostile projectiles by Houthis towards Samtah governorate in Jazan region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that resulted in casualties, injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure.

In a statement on Saturday, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said that such attacks not only violate international law but also threaten peace and security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region.

He said Pakistan calls for immediate cessation of these attacks.

He said Pakistan reaffirms its full support and solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any threats to its security and territorial integrity.

Source: Radio Pakistan

PM hails Russian President’s remarks against Islamophobia

Prime Minister Imran Khan has hailed Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister urged Muslim leaders to spread this message to leaders of non-Muslim world to counter Islamophobia.

Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain in a tweet said it is the efforts of Prime Minister Imran Khan that an international leader like Vladimir Putin is presenting his opinion candidly.

Earlier, in his annual news conference Russian President Vladimir Putin said insulting the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) does not count as expression of artistic freedom.

He said insults to the Prophet (PBUH) are violation of religious freedom and sacred feelings of people who profess Islam.

Source: Radio Pakistan