President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have extended greetings to all those celebrating Nowruz in the country and many parts of the region.
In their separate messages, they said the Nowruz has been observed for centuries as the beginning of a new season across Iran, Central Asia, parts of West Asia, South Asia and neighbouring regions.
The President said this year, as Nowruz arrives, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of the region who greet the spring under difficult and painful circumstances.
President Zardari said the illegitimate Taliban regime has deprived the people from even this celebration in Afghanistan.
“At a time when spring would normally bring celebration, many families face loss and uncertainty. Spring flowers in some Nowruz regions are covered with falling debris and blood. Gunpowder in these places is overpowering the sweet scent of the Nowruz flowers,” he remarked.
He said, “In our next-door Afghanistan where Nowruz has been celebrated for centuries, the illegitimate Taliban regime has deprived the people from even this celebration.
To the people of Afghanistan who have suffered so long, I want to convey my special Nowruz greetings and hope that this Nowruz will bring the end of their long night of darkness and doom.”
“I am hopeful on this Nowruz that the war clouds will go away and sunshine will return with blue skies. As spring begins, I hope this occasion brings peace, stability and hope to all those celebrating the festival,” he concluded.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said the government is responsible for protecting the followers of all religions in the country, their places of worship and for the care of their religious heritage.
He said the government, in collaboration with the media, educational institutions, civil society and religious leaders, is striving to promote an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding.
The prime minister said, “The government has adopted a comprehensive strategy in the form of the Policy on Interfaith Harmony (2025) and the Strategy on Religious Tolerance (2025) to promote religious harmony.
The aim of these policy measures is to promote dialogue between religions, establish an effective system of conflict resolution, prevent hate speech and raise awareness about common human values.”
“The government is responsible for protecting the followers of all religions in the country, their places of worship and for the care of their religious heritage.
The government, in collaboration with the media, educational institutions, civil society and religious leaders, is striving to promote an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding,” he added.
He said, “Let us, as a nation, renew our commitment to work together for mutual harmony, religious tolerance and patience and shared prosperity.”
