President Zardari, PM Shehbaz felicitate Sikh community on Vaisakhi

Islamabad (Web Desk): President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have extended warm greetings to Sikh community, living in Pakistan and world over, on the occasion of Vaisakhi.

In his message, the president said Vaisakhi is a symbol of Pakistan's beauty in its cultural and religious diversity.

He said Sikh community is playing a prominent role in the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

President Zardari said that our constitution guarantees complete religious freedom, equal rights and protection for minorities.

“We are committed to upholding the principles of interfaith harmony, tolerance and peaceful coexistence,” the president sad.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his warm greetings to Sikhs living in Pakistan and around the world on the joyous occasion of Vaisakhi being celebrated on Monday.

“This festive occasion marks the ripening of the Rabi harvest—a time of great joy for farmers as they reap the fruits of their hard labour,” he said in his message on the occasion.

The prime minister said that the festival also served as a reminder of the enduring spirit of hope, unity, and renewal inspiring and uniting our communities and forming the strength and soul of our great nation.

He wished that the Vaisakhi festival brings “prosperity to every field, peace to every heart, and progress to every corner of Pakistan.”

” Together, let us move forward with renewed energy and purpose, inspired by the spirit of Vaisakhi, to build a brighter, more inclusive, and stronger tomorrow, the prime minister said and greeted Sikhs in Punjabi language saying “Saareya nu Vaisakhi diyan vadhaiyan” translated as” Vaisakhi greetings to all.”

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Maryam Nawaz also extended heartfelt felicitations to Sikh community in Pakistan and all over the world for celebrating the Vaisakhi festival.

In a statement on the occasion, she said that Vaisakhi is a beautiful agri-based cultural festival of Punjab.

“Vaisakhi, she said golden wheat brings the news of Vaisakhi joys, which is the fruit of farmer' hard work,” the Punjab CM said.

Separately, addressing the main ceremony of the Vaisakhi Festival at Nankana Sahib, Minister of State for Religious Affairs, Kheal Das Kohistani said Pakistan belongs to all the communities living here and every religion is respected here.

“All minorities are free to worship and celebrate their festivals in Pakistan,” the minister said.
Kheal Das Kohistani rejected the baseless propaganda by India that minorities are unsafe in Pakistan saying that in fact, minorities are being targeted in India.

The minister warmly welcomed the Sikh Yatrees who came to Nankana Sahib from across the country and abroad including India to participate in the Vaisakhi celebrations.