LAHORE: More than 300 Nigehban Dastarkhwans have been set up across Punjab with the support of philanthropists and organisations on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, as thousands of people gathered to break their fast on the first day of Ramazan.
The chief minister expressed gratitude to donors and institutions for their cooperation and paid tribute to their spirit of generosity, saying that the initiative reflected true essence of compassion and brotherhood.
Large numbers of fasting citizens attended the Dastarkhwans in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur, while similar arrangements also saw heavy participation in Chiniot, DG Khan, Gujrat, Jhang, Attock, Jhelum, Kasur and Khanewal. In Kot Addu, Layyah, Mandi Bahauddin, Murree, Muzaffargarh, Okara and Narowal, senior officials also joined people at the communal iftar arrangements. Thousands of people were likewise served in Pakpattan, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, Vehari, Toba Tek Singh, Sheikhupura, Bhalwal and Sargodha. A variety of food items were provided at the Dastarkhwans.
Maryam said Ramazan was a time of compassion and collective responsibility, adding that caring for the needs of every deserving person remained a fundamental duty.
Maryam Nawaz, in her message on the International Mother Language Day, said language is not only a mean of expression but also the primary marker of a nation’s identity. She said the importance of mother tongues cannot be denied even in the digital age, as it represents the most valuable symbol of a nation’s culture, heritage and traditions.
The chief minister stated that education imparted in the mother tongue has a positive impact on children’s mental growth and learning abilities. She emphasised that the protection of mother tongues is, in fact, a guarantee of cultural autonomy and intellectual freedom.
She said the Punjab government has made the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture more active to safeguard and promote mother tongues. She said the government was committed to the development and promotion of mother tongues as they “form an essential part of our identity”. She noted that efforts were underway to connect the younger generation with their mother tongues so they remained aware of their culture and history. Various measures are being taken to support the growth, research and promotion of languages through educational curriculum, and the government will continue to play its full role in protecting and promoting mother tongues.
The chief minister condemned a cowardly attack by Fitna al-Khawarij on a security forces convoy in Bannu. She paid tribute to the bravery of security forces for foiling the major attack and eliminating five terrorists. She honoured the supreme sacrifice of Lieutenant Colonel Shehzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah who embraced martyrdom in the line of duty. She expressed condolences to the bereaved families and paid a glowing tribute to their great sacrifice for the homeland.
