Kamran Chaudhry

About 300 people of all religions came together in Punjab’s capital in a march organised in cooperation with St Columban Missionaries. Religious leaders and ordinary citizens want world leaders, who will meet in Paris on 30 November, to reach "a just and binding agreement to limit carbon emissions that are changing the Earth's climate.” Muslim environmentalist complains that Pakistan has some of “the most polluted cities in the world” and is “doing nothing about it".

The death toll in Pakistan rises to 272 dead. Over 2 thousand wounded and thousands of earthquake victims living outdoors. Caritas Pakistan has organized two groups who are visiting the districts of Malakand, Swat, Dir, Peshawar and Islamabad. Women buried in collapsed houses, while males were at the mosque. Rescuers ask for help to reach the remote areas before winter freezing temperatures arrive.

Badakhshan is under Taliban control and help is slow in arriving because of mountainous terrain. Death toll from both countries has risen to 360. Mass funerals and burials begin. Caritas Pakistan already in the most affected area. Two churches in Peshawar were damaged.

Celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Catholic organization in Lahore. Two days of seminars, meetings, events. The consequences of climate change: hurricanes, droughts, epidemics. Pope Francis’ encyclical "invites us to relate to all living creatures." Caritas’ projects.

The Christian NGO Centre for legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) organized a meeting over violence against women. More than 900 cases of honor killings, 500 cases of abductions and more than 400 cases of gang rapes were reported in Punjab last year.

Translation will be the work of the Society of St. Columban for Foreign Missions, in collaboration with the Theological Institute for Laity. For their "ecological" apostolate already active in schools across the country, the missionaries want to increase cooperation with the Islamic world.

The AIDS Awareness Society announces an empowerment programme for Gypsy women. It will involve at least 500 craftswomen and artisans, enabling them to improve their skills and marketing capabilities. Supporters also set up a centre for the display and sale of their products.

The largest supplier of electricity in the city of Karachi continues to suffer blackouts. The temperatures are the highest in the last 15 years and have resulted in 1,000 deaths. The workers' protest. Caritas Pakistan is organizing the distribution of bottled water and deploys doctors. Catholic churches use private resources to provide energy in parishes.

Pakistan has failed so far to respect the UN Convention against Torture, which it ratified in 2010. Every day, at least one prisoner is tortured in one of the country’s 1,300 police stations. Critics call on the authorities to respect and protect fundamental human rights, as well as shield and rehabilitate victims. Prisoners are safe only if they pay bribes.

In Sindh province the emergency is very real: last year 316 children died because of drought. Fr. Renato Zecchin, superior of the Jesuits in the country, hopes that “Laudato sì" will push the government "to draw on the resources of the monsoon and use the natural gifts we have." In Lahore a pastor will plant 10 thousand trees with his students.

Across the country there is only one hospital for the treatment of cancer. Oncological diseases are not yet studied in 46 medical colleges. The hospital will provide free medical care without discrimination of a religious nature. In Pakistan, 200 people die every day for lack of medical care.

Ten ulema and a former judge criticised a bill that would water down the existing blasphemy law. They also support the release of Mumtaz Qadri, who murdered Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who defended Asia Bibi.