Shafique Khokhar

Educators, activists and experts met yesterday to discuss the government's national education plan for 2021. One goal is to correct past mistakes that have led to discrimination and abuse. In order to achieve full educational development, the role of Christian schools should be recognised. The decision to teach Arabic should be reviewed.

With his wife Sajida Bibi and two of his children, Parvez Masih makes bricks to pay off a debt contracted 20 years ago. His children have stopped going to school. He has physical and mental disabilities. AsiaNews continues its campaign.

Some 200 people were accused of blasphemy last year, 75 per cent Muslims (70 per cent Shi‘as), 20 per cent Ahmadis, and 3.5 per cent Christians. if in the beginning Muslims tended to accuse non-Muslims, Muslims now mostly accuse other Muslims. At least 78 people were killed extra-judicially over blasphemy or apostasy. For Peter Jacob, the government should focus on those who drive the machine of religious intolerance.

Another distribution thanks to the generosity of AsiaNews readers, with a further 7 families added to the recipients of aid. Some readers are ready to cancel the debt that families have incurred with their bosses, for hunger or for medicine. Kaneez Bibi, 60, widow: “God looked at our pains and needs! And he sent you to help us! Please, continue to help us at least until the factories reopen!”.

Samson Salamat, president of an inter-religious movement indicates some priorities "to control the further damage and destabilization" of the country, including the "revision" of the blasphemy law which "continues to frighten citizens belonging to minorities and has led to 'killing of innocents.”

Husband and wife have been making bricks since they were little: their parents are in debt and are forced to work in the same factory. Poverty, lockdown, expenses for medicines and food push them into even more debt. "The only way to escape this slavery is to repay the loan we have received". Help our AsiaNews campaign.

The National Commission for Justice and Peace in Karachi sponsored the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Fr Saleh Diego said that Jesus wanted all Christians to “be one” and that one must keep in mind what Saint Paul said, “that we all are different parts of the same and one body; if there is pain in any part of our body our whole body feels it.”

Prof Anjum James Paul writes to Prime Minister Imran Khan to denounce a new example of intolerance. A dialogue in a middle school textbook is at the centre of a controversy. But “there are hundreds of examples,” Prof James warns. Students must be taught “humanity, ethics and moral values”.

Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw said that the Holy Spirit will guide us to be one and will open our hearts and minds so that we can love, respect and support each other.

Among many cases, that of a woman who was the victim of a campaign against her beauty salon and a man who was told that his shop had been emptied by thieves, but then his Muslim partner reopened in the same location.

In a video message the archbishop said that Saint Joseph contributed to God's work by taking care of Mary and the child Jesus. The father's role is important in every family.

Raja Walter, a charitable entrepreneur, created the initiative to help families who have lost their jobs, or have had their wages cut and who are unable to buy food, clothes, school equipment for their children. The "wall of Jesus" is fed by Christian and Muslim donors.