Churches shine with lights while markets bustle late into the night in the twin cities.
RAWALPINDI:
The Christian community of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad will celebrate the Christmas festival today (Thursday) with religious devotion, reverence and great enthusiasm, in line with the celebrations taking place around the world.
Churches and Christian neighborhoods in both cities have been decorated with colorful lights, flags and Christmas trees, while the distribution of Christmas cakes has begun in and around Christian homes.
Christmas was celebrated on Chand Raat on Wednesday night, leading to a surge in festive shopping. As a result, shopping malls, markets and malls in Rawalpindi and Islamabad remained open until 2am.
Christian families, including children, were seen shopping late into the night, causing severe traffic congestion in major markets. Clothing and shoe stores saw especially large crowds, while bakeries experienced an exceptional rush, with families purchasing between four and ten cakes at a time.
Due to Christmas Chand Raat, churches remained active throughout the night, and a large number of families attended worship until the early hours of dawn. Religious hymns were sung and poetic tributes were offered in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ (peace be upon him).
This year, Christmas shopping turned out to be significantly more expensive, with prices on most items increasing by around 80 percent. Christmas tree decorations also almost doubled in price. However, shopping remained at its peak and Christmas trees were decorated in virtually every Christian home.
Public transport operators, including taxis, rickshaws, Qingqi and bicycle services, also charged inflated fares, taking advantage of the festive occasion.
For Christmas Day, all churches have been equipped with CCTV cameras, while security guards have been deployed along with police personnel. Metal detectors will be used for thorough screening and female search personnel have also been assigned. Christmas worship services will begin at 9am today (Wednesday).
Christian leaders, pastors and clerics have expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements in all big and small churches and Christian colonies in the twin cities.
The coordinators of the Archbishop of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Babu Sajid and Rashid Chauhan, along with Pastor Asif, Pastor Qaiser and Priest Elias Masih, stated that the police and civil administration had implemented exemplary security measures.
They added that the Christmas cake cutting ceremonies held in various institutions, ministries, police offices and government departments have instilled renewed confidence and encouragement within the Christian community.
Special recreational measures have also been adopted at all amusement parks, including the installation of new attractions. On Christmas Day, December 25, all recreational parks will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
