In first, Lahore government promotes Christmas celebrations

The Punjab government has promoted the Christmas Interfaith Harmony Rally. Thousands of participants, with the capital decorated for the festivities. The Christian community rejoices at this sign of recognition and public dignity and the fight against discrimination. A step by Maryam Nawaz's administration towards the inclusion of Christians in Pakistani society.

Lahore (AsiaNews) - For the first time in history, the Lahore government has promoted a large interfaith Christmas event. On Sunday, thousands of people took part in the Christmas Interfaith Harmony Rally: 7 km from the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart to the Liberty roundabout.

Many shopping centres are decorated with Christmas trees. Liberty Market and Canal Road with Christmas celebrations: lights, decorations and a festive atmosphere. This is a positive and encouraging trend, considering the manipulations that this holiday faces, which instead spreads love, humility, peace, compassion and reconciliation, despite the small number of Christians.

The Christian community is over the moon about this event. Lahore is becoming as beautiful as many cities around the world, which are particularly decorated during the Christmas season. Seeing Lahore shine with the same spirit is deeply moving and long-awaited.

These beautiful public displays are more than just decorations: they are moments of recognition, belonging and shared celebration. This is exactly what Pakistani Christians have been missing for a long time: the dignity of being visible in public spaces during their most cherished festive moments. Christians are grateful to Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Aftab Alexander Mughal, director of Minority Concern UK, called the Christmas Interfaith Harmony Rally ‘a positive step’ that could have a ‘lasting impact’ on Pakistani society.

‘At a time when intolerance and religious fanaticism are on the rise in Punjab province, initiatives of this kind are urgently needed to promote a message of brotherhood and equal citizenship for all Pakistanis,’ he added. Christmas-related activities organised by Christians and the government help to address the fear of persecution and discrimination that Christians often face.

‘Although the government aimed to counter negative propaganda about Pakistan with this gathering, the event also gave Christians a positive public presence, which can help bring Christians and Muslims closer together. Christians were delighted that Christmas was officially celebrated.’

In an interview with AsiaNews, Fr Lazar Aslam OP, a Capuchin serving in Punjab, said: "I am witnessing a transformative change within a society often characterised by its complexity. The initiatives launched by the Punjab government for Christmas 2025 are significant both in their scope and their intentions.‘ It is encouraging to see an effort to move beyond “rhetoric” towards practical and visible actions that promote inclusion.

The current administration, led by Maryam Nawaz, has introduced several ’new features" for the province. This is a real turning point in relations between the state and the community. First of all, a season of celebrations: for the first time, the government organised an official 12-day calendar of events. In addition to the Christmas Interfaith Harmony Rally in Lahore, there was also the Interfaith Cycling Heritage Ride, which brought the spirit of the festivities to public spaces.

Then, a considerable effort was made in terms of decorations and security. District administrations were tasked with ensuring that churches and Christian neighbourhoods were not only given greater protection but also decorated and provided with enhanced municipal services, treating the holiday as a provincial priority.

Furthermore, in a significant gesture of inclusion, the Punjab government declared 26 December a specific holiday for the Christian community, allowing them to extend their celebrations with family and friends. And it has embarked on a path towards interfaith harmony: the active participation of Muslim, Sikh and Hindu leaders in these Christmas celebrations sends a powerful message to the world. By defining minority communities as ‘the crown on his head,’ the prime minister is shifting the narrative from mere “tolerance” to the ‘full belonging’ of Christians to Pakistan's history.

Although Punjab is often referred to as the “heart of Pakistan”, the Christian community has long been its lifeblood, making significant contributions to education, healthcare and the defence of the nation. Seeing the state publicly recognise this role is a crucial step towards healing old wounds and building a more inclusive future for all people.