All set for X-mass celebrations tomorrow.

SIALKOT -- Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that the minority communities enjoy complete religious freedom in the country.

She said the government was making an all-out effort to protect their rights. She stated this while addressing a meeting of local Christians held at Sialkot.

Firdous highly hailed the role of Christian Community in peace, prosperity and development. She added that the Christians were playing their pivotal role shoulder to shoulder with the Muslim for national integrity, unity, prosperity, solidarity and stability.

She also cut the X-mass cake and greeted the Christian community on the eve of X-mass Day.

Dr Firdous and Minister for Special Education Punjab Muhammad Ikhlaq reviewed the security arrangements made by the Sialkot police for X-mass day.

Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Dr. Nasir Mehmood Bashir, Sialkot DPO Capt (Rtd) Mustansar Feroz, senior officials of Sialkot district administration and local Christian and Muslim religious clerics also attended this important meeting.

The government has ordered the fool proof security arrangements in and around all the 531 churches and 100 Christians' recreational places in Gujranwala Division's all the six Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad and Gujranwala, in a bid to avert any untoward incident ahead of the X-mass Day.

According to the officials concerned, the provincial government has also issued the directives to all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in these districts, advising them to ensure early deputation of the police and other security personnel in and around these churches, besides, keeping 24 hours vigilant eyes on the dubious persons.

Local administrations and police have also been asked to ensure the latest metal detectors, walk through gates and using the sniffer dogs for the security purposes, in this regard.

Senior officials added that there are 134 churches in Sialkot district, 108 churches in Narowal...

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