LAHORE: (Wednesday, December 18, 2024): Head of Lahore Office British High Commission Ben Warrington has said that cooperation will continue for the promotion of higher education in Pakistan. He was addressing a Christmas cake cutting ceremony organized by Punjab University Institute of Education & Research (IER) at Waheed Shaheed Hall on Wednesday. On this occasion, Deputy Head of Lahore Office British High Commission Saeed ul Hassan, Mrs. Maria Warrington, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, MNA Shumaila Rana, MPA Salma Saeed Hashmi, Director IER Prof Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry, faculty members, Christian staff and students were present. In his address, Ben Warrington said that Christmas is a very important event for us to promote interfaith harmony with a message of peace and brotherhood. He said that he found PU better than what he had heard about its beauty before coming to the university.

PU VC Dr Muhammad Ali congratulated Dr Qayyum and his team for organizing a good event. He said that the minorities are the best citizens of Pakistan who are rendering many services in the fields of education and health. He said that the minority community lives in Pakistan with love, peace and freedom. He said that all Pakistanis share their happiness. Saeed ul Hassan said that there is no other way except peace to promote harmony. He said that we need to shake hands, listen and see each other. Shumaila Rana said that minorities are a part of our body that lives in our hearts. She said that the government is trying to protect minority’s rights. She said that we are all united in the development and defense of the country. Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry said that the purpose of organizing the program was to promote inter-faith harmony, peace and tolerance. He said that this is the first program of its kind in the history of IER, for which he is grateful to Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ali. On this occasion, music was performed by the students. Later, Ben Warrington, Dr Muhammad Ali and others cut the Christmas cake.