ICCI organized a ‘Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’ ceremony. Pastor Asif Riaz, Christian Counselor Ch Rashid Farzand, Pakistan Minority Forum Chairman Ch Ashraf Farzand, Pastor Saleem and a large number of people attended the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Malik, Acting President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the Christian community played a laudable role in the economic development of the country. He said the government should ensure better protection of the rights of all minorities including Christians. He said the government should also provide special incentives to business people belonging to the minorities, so that they could better contribute to the economy.
He said government and society should encourage such events as it would promote social harmony and national unity. He said many businessmen of Christian community were members of ICCI which showed that the chamber was working to promote the interests of members of all communities. He assured that the Chamber would play a role for the resolution of issues faced by the Christian business community.
Tahir Ayub, Vice President, ICCI said that the teachings of Hazrat Isa have been guiding principles for Muslims in every age. He said Hazrat Isa always stressed on serving humanity which was also a golden principle of Islam. He said the Christian community was playing a useful role in every walk of life including economy, politics, law and other fields which ought to be fully acknowledged. He said ICCI would continue to organize such events so that along with promoting business activities, it could also play role in bringing communities closer.
Speaking at the occasion, Priest Asif Riaz, Christian Counselor Ch Rashad Farzand, Pakistan Minority Forum Chairman Ch Ashraf Farzand, Pastor Saleem thanked ICCI for this gesture towards their community and said that such ceremonies gave a new confidence to Christians to work harder for economic development of the country.
Zubair Ahmed Malik, former President FPCCI and ICCI, Naeem Siddiqui, Khalid Chaudhry, Ahmed Mughal, Sheraz Ahmed Siddiqui and many other members of ICCI were also present at the occasion. The ceremony was ended with cutting of Christmas cake.