As the preparations for Christmas has reached its climax, the government is handing out cash gifts to the Christian community so that they can celebrate their festival in a befitting manner.
The Ministry of Minorities Affairs has planned to extend financial support to the needy members of Christian community so that they have cash in hand to celebrate the festival as per their wishes.
Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti in an interview with APP said, 'This year Christmas will be celebrated in the same old spirit which kindles love and hope.'
To mark the festival in a befitting manner, the needy Christians would be given financial assistance of Rs3,000 to 5,000, he said.
The minister was appreciative of the government's concerted efforts to alleviate poverty. He said society should take care of the people who are left behind in the social and economic progress.
An official of the ministry told that the funds approved for special occasions and festivals of minorities are equally distributed among the deserving persons every year. The ministry has earmarked about Rs75 million for the festivals of religious minorities taking place around the year while an amount of Rs10 million has been allocated exclusively for the grand festival of Christmas, he stated.
Apart from these festivals, he said 50percent of the total budget is distributed amongst the deserving people through a transparent process every year, in which the applicants can file for assistance along with their ID cards and applications. Further, he elaborated that the applications are routed through the minority members of the National Assembly.