The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz said on Tuesday that Islam teaches us to establish peace, passion, tolerance, humanity and brotherhood in the society.
He said this while addressing the participants of the first ever Christmas festival organised by the CDA in collaboration with Christian Unity Forum, Aim Association, ICF, PCWS, RAYS and SYUF for the Christian community in connection with Christmas celebrations here at the open air theatre at Shakarparian.
The CDA chairman felicitated the Christian community on this happy occasion, and said that the Christian community was playing a pivotal role in the development of the federal capital and deserved laurels for their services. He further said that the Christian employees of the CDA deserved appreciation for the services they had rendered to keep the city clean.
He also said that the CDA was the only organisation which paid bonuses to its Christian employees on the eve of Ester and Christmas festivals. The practice of lighting up Christmas trees in the capital city was started by the CDA three years ago and was being expanded with every passing year to add more colours to Christmas celebrations. This year, on the directions of the CDA chairman, the CDA Member Administration Munir Ahmad Chaudhry supervised the arrangements of Christmas celebrations and decorated Christmas trees had been lit-up in front of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited at Zero Point.
Furthermore, the chairman said that the CDA had always met the demands of the Christian community, adding that the building plan of Full Gospel Assembly (FGA) Church had been approved. On the demand of the Christian community for organising Christmas festivals on a permanent basis on the eve of every Christmas in the future, the Chairman CDA assured that the CDA Board would consider the demand in its next meeting.
Moreover, the chairman said that he had always taken great pride to have had this peaceful and hard working community alongside him in the journey towards making Islamabad a model city. He further said that during Eid-ul-Adha every year, the Christian employees of Sanitation Directorate had kept the city clean in a remarkable way, which had been appreciated not only by the residents of Islamabad but was also lauded by people across the country. He called upon the religious leaders of the Christian community to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country on the eve of Christmas.
On this occasion Reverend Michael Hakim addressed the ceremony. He said in his address that their aim was to serve humanity. Meanwhile, the CDA Member Planning and Design Syed Mustafain Kazmi, Member Administration Munir, CDA Mazdoor Union Leader Chaudhry Yaseen, Manzoor Masih, Sarfaraz Gill Mukhtar Puran and Shahzad Anjum also addressed the ceremony.
Later a Christmas cake was cut by elders from the Christian community and CDA officials, while children performed colourful tableaus and skits during a Christmas ceremony.
CDA organises Christmas festival
