Thousands of Christians joined Punjab’s first state-sponsored Christmas rally in Lahore, hailed as progress for religious freedom, but concerns over persecution and limited Muslim participation persist.
Newsroom (15/12/2025 Gaudium Press ) In a landmark display of official support for religious minorities, thousands of Christians participated in Pakistan’s first government-sponsored Christmas rally in Punjab province on December 14, an event organizers and community leaders described as a significant step toward greater religious freedom in the Muslim-majority nation.
The seven-kilometer procession, officially titled the Christmas Interfaith Harmony Rally, began at Sacred Heart Cathedral and concluded at a prominent downtown Lahore roundabout. Catholic and Protestant clergy marched alongside Punjab’s Minister for Minority Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, as participants rode on two double-decker buses and container trucks adorned with red-and-white balloons. For four hours, the crowd sang Christmas carols and chanted slogans, culminating in fireworks and the illumination of a 17-foot Christmas tree that will remain lit until December 25.
Addressing the gathering, Arora emphasized that the rally conveyed a powerful message to the world and countered what he termed “negative propaganda” against Pakistan by certain non-governmental organizations and political actors. Speaking to media at the cathedral, he highlighted enhanced protections for religious minorities, pointing to a 300 percent increase in the Punjab government’s 2025 budget allocation for the Minority Affairs Department.
The rally formed part of a broader week-long Christmas campaign sponsored by the provincial government, which also featured a sports gala, a cycling event, and cake-cutting ceremonies at churches and educational institutions. According to Ayesha Yaseen, deputy secretary of the Punjab Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department, the government fully funded the buses, trailers, fireworks, and Christmas tree.
Senior Punjab minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced during the event that minority cards issued in the province had increased from 75,000 to 100,000. These cards enable impoverished Christians to access scholarships, health assistance, and emergency relief. She also noted a minority welfare scheme introduced in December 2024, providing eligible families with 10,000 rupees (approximately US$36) every three months.
Community responses were largely positive. Yasir Javed, vice president of the cathedral’s Catholic Youth Ministry, described the government’s sponsorship as “a big step” for Pakistan’s Christians. “It sends a positive message to religious minorities, who are often ignored and persecuted,” Javed said.
Yet, optimism was tempered by ongoing challenges. Javed noted that young Christians remain vulnerable to blasphemy accusations, especially on social media, leading many to refrain from openly expressing their faith. Few wear crosses publicly, he added, and some Muslims avoid patronizing food outlets that employ Christians.
Muhammad Asim Makhdoom, a Muslim cleric and chairman of the Kul Masalik Ulema (Council of Scholars), voiced concern over the limited engagement from the broader Muslim public. “The only Muslim participants invited were clerics, police, and media people,” he observed, warning that religious minorities continue to feel unprotected due to the political influence of radical groups.
The rally occurred against a backdrop of persistent fears within Pakistan’s Christian community. Visible public celebrations remain largely confined to shopping malls and hotels, while politicians’ Christmas greetings appear mainly on roadside banners. Just days earlier, on December 5, Pentecostal pastor Kamran Salamat was shot dead outside his home in Gujranwala, Punjab. In December 2024, Christians in Karachi criticized the swift removal of what was promoted as Pakistan’s tallest decorated Christmas tree from a busy intersection, only two days after its installation by a political leader.
Despite these incidents, the Punjab government’s initiative marks a rare public endorsement of Christian festivities, offering a glimmer of progress amid enduring economic, social, and security challenges for the country’s religious minorities.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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