Punjab Police have finalised a comprehensive security plan for Christmas and Quaid-e-Azam Day, deploying more than 30,000 police officers and personnel to ensure security at over 2,900 churches across the province, including Lahore.
In the provincial capital, more than 5,000 police officers and personnel will perform security duties at over 600 Christian places of worship, while over 1,000 police personnel will be deployed for Quaid-e-Azam Day programmes.
According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, churches have been categorized into A, B, and C categories based on sensitivity, with 142 churches placed in Category A, 291 in Category B, and more than 2,500 in Category C. Women police personnel will also be deployed to conduct checking of female citizens during Christmas and Quaid-e-Azam Day events.
IGP Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has directed all RPOs and DPOs to maintain a high security alert, particularly at sensitive churches, and to remain extremely vigilant against anti-state elements and suspicious individuals. He ordered additional deployment of police force at sensitive locations.
The IG Punjab further directed supervisory officers to ensure effective security arrangements through continuous coordination with church administrations. With the assistance of Safe Cities Authority cameras, continuous monitoring of events will be carried out, while commandos and snipers will also be deployed at sensitive churches and key locations.
Dr. Usman Anwar said Dolphin Squad, Punjab Response Unit (PRU), and Elite Police teams will ensure effective patrolling around churches and Christian localities, while CTD and Special Branch teams, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, will take action against terrorists and miscreant elements. He added that flag marches, search, and sweep operations are being conducted ahead of Christmas.
Interfaith Christmas cycling rally held in Lahore
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the eighth day of the twelve-day Christmas celebrations began with a grand Christmas Interfaith Cycling Heritage Ride, on Sunday.
Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora attended the event as chief guest. The minister inaugurated the ride by cutting the ribbon and led the rally himself. Citizens of diverse faiths, including Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and others, participated enthusiastically. The ride commenced from Naulakha Church and passed through the historic sites of Lahore’s Walled City, highlighting the city’s cultural heritage and promoting interfaith harmony. The event was organized in collaboration with the Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department.
Addressing participants, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora said the gathering reflected the Pakistan envisioned by its founders, where people of different religions live together in peace and mutual respect. He described the ride as a symbol of interfaith peace and brotherhood, noting that for the first time, an eight-kilometer Christmas rally was organized on Mall Road, projecting Pakistan’s positive image globally.
He added that Christmas conveys a message of joy, peace, and religious harmony, and acknowledged the significant contributions of the Christian community to the country’s progress since independence.