Minorities Day – Pakistan: Dignified ceremony held at YMCA Lahore under the theme “we are one nation”

Lahore: A dignified ceremony was held at YMCA Lahore in connection with Pakistan Minorities Day, under the theme "We Are One Nation." The event was organized to pay tribute to Pakistan’s Independence Day and the key role of minorities in the country's history.

The event was jointly presided over by Sania Ashiq and Sarah Sarfraz, and formally began with the national anthem.

YMCA students delivered speeches related to August 14 and energized the audience by singing patriotic songs.

The chief guest was Rt. Rev. Nadeem Kamran (Bishop of Lahore), and the event was hosted and led by Ghazala Sarfraz (General Secretary, YMCA Lahore). Souvenirs were presented to the distinguished guests.

In his address, Bishop Nadeem Kamran referenced Quaid-e-Azam’s August 11 speech. He reminded the audience of the significant role played by the Christian community during the creation of Pakistan and highlighted the three decisive votes by S.P. Singha, which proved to be a turning point in the establishment of the country.

Ghazala Sarfraz, while shedding light on the historical importance of YMCA Lahore, shared that during the time of Pakistan’s formation, a key meeting of Christian leaders—chaired by Dewan Bahadur S.P. Singha—was held at YMCA Lahore Hall. It was in this very meeting that Christian leaders of Punjab decided to support the Muslim majority, leading to the decision to cast the three crucial votes that paved the way for Pakistan's creation.

Ghazala Sarfraz emphasized the need to educate the younger generation about national heroes like S.P. Singha to promote unity and harmony in the country.

Asghar Salman, President of YMCA Lahore, also appreciated the historic role of the Christian community, adding that YMCA remains committed to youth empowerment, skill-building, and the promotion of peace and tolerance.

For the first time, the Pakistani Christian Cricket Team was honored with special awards, and continuing the tradition of youth empowerment, certificates were awarded to YMCA students as well. The medal distribution was carried out by General Secretary Ghazala Sarfraz, Bishop Rt. Rev. Nadeem Kamran, and YMCA Lahore President Asghar Salman.

The ceremony concluded with a cake-cutting in celebration of Pakistan’s Independence Day, and participants commemorated the occasion with group photos to capture the memorable moment.