This Pakistani varsity will ‘celebrate’ Feb 14 as Sister’s Day

FAISALABAD – A university in Punjab province has decided to celebrate ‘Sisters Day’ instead of Valentine’s Day on February 14.

The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad will not be allowing its students to celebrate Valentine’s Day to promote eastern values and Islamic culture, according to the university’s vice-chancellor.

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14, and is seen as purely a Christian event in many Muslim countries.

“We are preparing a plan to distribute scarf, shawls and gowns printed with UAF insignia among female students on the day,” Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa said in a statement on Sunday. “In our culture, women are more empowered and earn due respects as sisters, mothers, daughters and wife.”

The VC proudly took credit for the idea and requested "wealthy" people to donate money to buy the gowns and scarves.

He also inaugurated the signage titled “I love UAF” established near Clock Tower of the university.

Dr Randhawa further said that the youth must devote their energies towards their education, knowledge and become the skilled manpower. “In the modern era, only knowledge-based economies will flourish. We have to inculcate knowledge of our heroes’ lives in the youth so that they can prove their mettle by following their footprints,” he added.

The University of Agriculture (UAF) is ranked 4th in Pakistan and 1st in the field of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences by HEC Ranking 2015.

Ban on Valentine's Day

The Islamabad High Court had in 2017 and 2018 banned all valentines day celebrations, warning the print and electronic media to "stop all Valentine's Day promotions immediately".

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had also been ordered to monitor all mediums and send out notifications banning any related promotions.