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Union of Christian sanitary workers hosts iftar for Muslims in response to Umerkot incident

09:49 PM | 11 Jun, 2017
Union of Christian sanitary workers hosts iftar for Muslims in response to Umerkot incident
LAHORE - History was made when one of Lahore's churches not only opened its doors for Muslims to break their fast at the church but also organised a prayer session and Iftari for Muslims and the church leaders fasted alongside Muslims to promote interfaith harmony.

In the wake of Umerkot incident where a Christian sanitary worker was left to die for being 'impure', Pakistan for All's (PFA) Sanitary Workers Union of Pakistan Christian community, hosted an Iftar dinner in a response to the Umerkot incident.

Earlier this month, a sanitary worker who fell unconscious while cleaning a drain lost his life after doctors at Civil Hospital Umerkot refused to treat him until his body was washed.

All four workers were rushed to Civil Hospital Umerkot, where doctors told the patient's attendants to wash his body before they would begin treatment.



Speaking to Daily Pakistan, Pastor Hidayat Assi said that it was a matter of pride for him that the church had organised an interfaith Iftar dinner and invited Muslims to break their fast in the expression of harmony even after the Umerkot incident. He said: “The true message and essence of Ramazan is this."

"In the name of our brother Irfan Massih, we call on all faiths in our motherland to come together as one humanity," said pastor Assi.

"We are one humanity created by God in this beloved motherland. Our religions teach us to love. Let us then come together. Ramzan stands for peace and love."



 


"This is the Pakistan that the Sanitary Workers Union believes in. This is the Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. We still hold in our hearts the promise of our founder that Pakistan is for All."


The pastor said the Quran recognises the principle of inclusiveness and unity when it says: " "Ya aiyuhal Nas" (O Humankind) directly 306 times and indirectly more than two thousand times in its over 6,000 verses."

Before sunset, the pastor spoke about the importance and reason for holding such Iftar. He said what took place in Umerkot couldn't shatter the firm faith and conviction of the community that tolerance and pluralism are the ideal that they have to attain.

Prayers were also made for the soul of Irfan Masih, a worker who died in Umerkot.



“We, the gutter cleaners, will teach the people the real meaning and message of Ramzan that seeks to clean all evil from your character and makes you a better person,” said one of the sanitary workers, adding had the doctor been really aware of the Ramazan fasting, he would have followed the Quranic verse which likens the death of an individual to the death of whole humanity.

The doctors union was also present and participated in the event to give out a loud message.

“The Iftar dinner aimed to bring Christian and Muslim communities together to celebrate Ramazan and share our common values,” said a doctor. She said fasting with these people had been a great experience for her and it just made her realise the sacrifice that goes into fasting around 16 hours a day.”



Representatives of Pakistan For All, who organised the Iftar said that instead of extravagant Ramazan game shows, or inviting clerics for conventional futile sermons, the interfaith Iftar sought to materialise the real message of Ramazan and invited the Doctors Union for the purpose.

Stressing the need for such Iftar dinners, the bishop said it was for the first time that interfaith Iftar has taken place. “This is what Jinnah’s Pakistan would be like, where no one is inferior or superior on the basis of religion, caste or creed,” the pastor added.

He said his community takes pride in teaching the real message of the holy month because “what happened with the sanitary worker in Umerkot didn’t reflect the true message of Islam and Jinnah’s Pakistan.”

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Pakistani rupee registers marginal gain against US Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal and Dirham; Check forex rates

Pakistani rupee continued its momentum against the US dollar, and orther currencies in the open market on Thursday, as the local currency also improved in the inter-bank market.

Dollar Rate in Pakistan Today

On Thursday, the US dollar moved down and was being quoted at 283.2 for buying and 286.15 for selling.

Euro comes down to 308 for buying and 311 for selling. British Pound rate dropped to 358.5 for buying, and 362 for selling.

UAE Dirham AED witnessed slight drop and new rate stands at 77.4 whereas the Saudi Riyal remained stable at 76.

Today's currency exchange rates in Pakistan - 7 December 2023

Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar USD 283.2 286.15
Euro EUR 308 311
UK Pound Sterling GBP 358.5 362
U.A.E Dirham AED 77.4 78.1
Saudi Riyal SAR 76 76.8
Australian Dollar AUD 187.2 189
Bahrain Dinar BHD 757.23 765.23
Canadian Dollar CAD 209 211
China Yuan CNY 39.89 40.29
Danish Krone DKK 41.19 41.59
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 36.41 36.76
Indian Rupee INR 3.42 3.53
Japanese Yen JPY 1.39 1.45
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 921.71 930.71
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 61.02 61.62
New Zealand Dollar NZD 174.54 176.54
Norwegians Krone NOK 26.05 26.35
Omani Riyal OMR 739.62 747.62
Qatari Riyal QAR 78.22 78.92
Singapore Dollar SGD 211 213
Swedish Korona SEK 27.12 27.42
Swiss Franc CHF 324.94 327.44
Thai Bhat THB 8.06 8.21

Gold prices in Pakistan move down despite positive global cues; Check latest rates here

Gold price in Pakistan remained under pressure as the yellow metal moved down despite an upward trend in the international market.

Gold Rates in Pakistan Today - 7 December 2023

On Thursday, the price of a single tola of 24-karat gold stands at Rs217,100 and 10 grams of 24k gold costs Rs186,130. 

Single tola of 22 Karat Gold costs Rs199,000, 21 karat rate for per tola is Rs189,960 and 18k gold rate is Rs162,825.00 for each tola.

In the global market, gold prices hover at around $2026, gaining $8.30 on Thursday.

Today Gold Rate in Pakistan

Today Gold Price in Pakistan (4 September 2023)

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Karachi PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Islamabad PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Peshawar PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Quetta PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Sialkot PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Attock PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Gujranwala PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Jehlum PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Multan PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Bahawalpur PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Gujrat PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Nawabshah PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Chakwal PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Hyderabad PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Nowshehra PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Sargodha PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Faisalabad PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565
Mirpur PKR 217,100 PKR 2,565

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