Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Pakistan Christian Welfare Society (PCWS) celebrated the Easter festival with great zeal and enthusiasm at Consulate General of Pakistan premises on Saturday.

Arshad Munir, consular (press) at Consulate General Pakistan, was the chief guest on the occasion.

In his address, he congratulated the Pakistan Christian community living in Jeddah on Easter festival and appreciated the role they are playing for the prosperity and progress of Pakistan’s economy. He also praised their positive attitude in boosting brotherhood not only in Pakistan but also for a universal brotherhood that would foster peace and harmony in the world.

He passed on the good wishes of Easter from Consul General Shehryar Akbar Khan and assured them of full cooperation and support from him and consulate staff in all consular services.

He stressed on spreading the message of love and unity through friendship. He also emphasized on the need to be law-abiding and urged all to respect local laws and regulations. A little girl Ephrathah Gulzar presented him a bouquet of flowers.

Earlier Patrick Flalak Sher, general secretary PCWS, welcomed the guests and participants. He said the world needed tolerance not extremism.

He said, “We (the Christian community) are peace loving community and Pakistan’s patriots. But some times we are disappointed when we are victimized, tortured and marginalized by some enemies of Pakistan. We have complaints with the institutions not with our brothers and the public.”

He appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar to also take notice of the violence against Christian community in Pakistan, and set up laws to prevent this, and also see that it (the law) is implemented.

Pastor Parvez Yousaf Masih, president PCWF, thanked all guests and members of PCWS organizing committee included John Gulzar, Patric Falak Sher, Shahzad Taj, Wallium, Sharif Bhatti and Akram Sandu for their efforts in organizing this event and making it a success. He also thanked the consul general and the consulate staff for their good wishes and also for providing facilities in the consulate premises.

He lauded the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and the government of Saudi Arabia for its noble policies and job opportunities for Pakistani expatriates in the field of health, engineering, construction and education.

Members from Pakistan Journalists Forum (PJF), including Jamil Rathore, Asad Akram and Syed Khalil, also addressed the gathering. John Gulzar was the master of ceremony.