Attaullah Tarar extends Easter greetings, lauds Christian community’s role in nation-building

LAHORE, Apr 05 (APP):Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Sunday extended heartfelt Easter greetings to the Christian community across Pakistan, acknowledging their significant contributions to national development, education, and defense.
Talking to the media at Eternal Life Church, Kot Lakhpat, the minister said he proudly represents thousands of Christians and considers it his responsibility to stand by the community in moments of joy and sorrow. He emphasized the need for unity among churches and urged the Christian community to form a joint committee representing various denominations, assuring that he would arrange a meeting with relevant federal authorities in Islamabad within the same week.
Highlighting the services of prominent Christian figures, he paid tribute to national hero Cecil Chaudhry, terming him among the finest pilots in the world. He said the Christian community had rendered invaluable sacrifices alongside Muslims in the war against terrorism, adding that their blood and contributions were an integral part of Pakistan’s security and resilience.
The minister underlined that Christian educational institutions had played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s academic landscape, adding that the community’s services in the education sector were widely recognized and deeply appreciated.
Attaullah Tarar, referring to the government’s public welfare measures, said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had assured that the government would not leave the people alone during challenging times. He mentioned that the prime minister recently reduced the petroleum levy by Rs80, reflecting his commitment to providing relief to the masses. He added that public transport in Islamabad and Lahore had been made completely free to facilitate citizens. He said that the government would continue to take all possible steps to ease difficulties faced by the public and would not retreat in the face of challenges.
The minister also called upon the Christian community, along with all segments of society, to pray for the country’s peace, prosperity, and progress, emphasizing that just as other communities had contributed to Pakistan’s development, the role of the Christian community remained equally vital and commendable.
Earlier, the minister also participated in the Easter celebrations, where he cut a cake alongside prominent Christian leaders, including Pastor Anwar Fazal, Pastor Shaukat Fazal, Saleem Shakir and Kashif Sajan, as a gesture of solidarity with the community.