Kamran Chaudhry

The insects are destroying crops in several provinces. The government allocates US$ 48 million to deal with the crisis. Local Caritas complains of delays in prevention and counteraction. The devastation has affected local producers and consumers. A minister jokingly suggests “eating locusts”.

Puran Ram suffered discrimination since childhood, which made him feel dirty from birth. In Sanskrit, his name means "ancient legends and popular lore", but his classmates mocked him for it sounding like porn. One schoolmate left school "because he refused to study with me.” Others brought their own glasses to avoid drinking with him.

The Diocese of Islamabad is behind the initiative. Very few Christians work in the federal administration, despite a 5 per cent government quota for minorities. The first class consisted of 26 students, 22 women and four men.

Some 39 people died in the 24 September earthquake. The government is slow in handing out reconstruction funds. Caritas hands out aid in Mirpur district.

National Minorities Day was established thanks to Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic minister who killed for defending Asia Bibi. Christians are discriminated against in the workplace and ignored in school books. In 2018, 16 people were charged for alleged blasphemy.

Tension remain high following India’s security measures in the disputed territory. Jammu and Kashmir is the only Indian state with a Muslim majority. The former executive secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission calls for a referendum to decide the issue of sovereignty.

The Archbishop of Lahore opens a seminar on "Interfaith Harmony, Social Necessity". Dialogue helps eliminate violence. “The Church appreciates the beauty of diversity” and does not “want to convert anyone.”

The prelate is a man of culture: he was deputy director of the Major Seminary in Karachi and dean of the National Catholic Theology Institute. He will be consecrated in September. Local priest: "We hope that he will convince Christians to attend school. Otherwise they will remain lifelong scavengers”.

The Data Darbar is the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia, which welcomes up to one million pilgrims a year. The suicide bomber wanted to hit the police patrol that controlled one of the sanctuary's entrances. Fr. James Channan: "Another sad example of religious terrorism". In the month of Ramadan, mosques and shrines are crowded with worshipers. Moulana Tahir Ashrafi, president of the Ulema Council of Pakistan, thanks for the messages of solidarity from Christians and other religious minorities.

The Youth Development Foundation is behind "peace camps" for young people of different faiths. Prejudices against other religious traditions are fuelled by "semi-illiterate and biased preachers who are responsible for misleading worshipers in our mosques."

The government pledged to create ten million new jobs and build five million houses. With a 4 per cent growth rate, poverty will not be tackled, nor will per capita income increase by much. The government is negotiating a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. Terrorism is driving investors away.

The event will be held from 26 to 28 April in the courtyard of the St Patrick Cathedral. Artists will perform for free to raise funds. Over the years the windows have been damaged by bombs and heat.