Christmas festivities in Multan were dampened by a surge in inflation and a shared concern over an uptick in incidents of violence across the country.

The residents of Multan told the TNS that they took part in holiday traditions, but with the price of daily commodities and Christmas goods edging higher, they found themselves cutting corners, even on the special occasion.

Though the celebrations were heartwarming because they reflected the resilience of the Christian community in the face of a terror wave that has gripped the country, they were a bit muted in the city due to the security situation.

Soaring prices

Rising inflation made Multan hope for a merrier Christmas in 2023. The citizens said that the prices of daily commodities were rising and that disrupted the celebrations. “Price hikes have driven up Christmas costs,” said Sarfaraz Clement, a resident of Laselle Colony.

Clement said that giving presents to loved ones was a practice that was at the heart of many Christmas traditions but many people could no longer afford it. “It is unfortunate that we are forced to abandon an age-old practice because of the economic crunch,” he said.

Recalling his fondest Christmas memories, Clement said that when he was younger, the Muslim families in his neighborhood would send his family mithai (sweets) and his family would reciprocate by sending them cake. “Now this tradition has died because everyone is trying to cut down on spending,” he paused and sighed.

Clement pointed out the way the cost of Christmas goods had risen as the holiday season started this year. “Many preparations are needed to pull off a Christmas celebration,” he said, adding that decorations, ornaments, hearty meals and a Christmas tree were staple. “But due to skyrocketing prices many households could not afford them this season,” he said.

According to Clement, many families were unable to buy a Christmas tree this year. “Christmas trees are a lot more expensive this year. The prices have increased from 500 to 1,500 rupees last year to 2,000 to 5,000 rupees this year,” he said, adding that if prices continue to increase at the current rate, Christmas would soon become unaffordable for many.

“The government followed through on its promise of suspending power outages on Christmas, said Clement, “but Christmas festivities in Multan were eclipsed by skyrocketing prices.”

Sellers who had set up stalls in Multan Cantonment Bazaar to sell Christmas-themed merchandise including decorative ornaments, trinkets and artificial trees confirmed that holiday shoppers in Multan were spending less this year. “The markets were flooded with Christmas goods but sales plummeted this year due to declining purchasing powers,” a vendor told the TNS.

Security arrangements

Christmas 2022 was celebrated amidst high security. In the wake of the recent bomb attack in Islamabad, the responsibility for which was claimed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the authorities had beefed up the security arrangements around the country.

In Multan, as in some other parts of south Punjab, the security remained on high alert throughout the day. Over 1,000 police personnel were stationed to cover Christmas services at churches.

City Police Officer Shakir Hussein Dawar directed all the officials to remain cautious and not let unauthorised people from entering churches, a police spokesman told the TNS. “No effort was spared in protecting the Christian community and their place of worship,” he commented. Police officials were also told to visit the churches in their areas and review the security arrangements before the service started.

These measures were taken after a series of violent incidents shook the country, causing speculation that the ceasefire agreement the government had reached with the TTP had come to an end. This created an atmosphere of palpable tension in Multan.

South Punjab has been a hotbed of sectarian violence in the past. Some of the militant outfits operating here were also linked to the TTP.

Looking ahead

Pakistan Massihi Awami League chairperson Katherine Nazir said that 2022 was a difficult year for the people but she was hoping that the situation would improve in 2023. “I hope that we will find a way to strengthen democracy this year,” she said.

Commenting on celebration of Christmas in Multan, she said that price hikes and the financial difficulties that people were facing had made it harder for them to embrace the holiday spirit and welcome in the New Year. “When Christmas was right around the corner, flour was either unavailable or not being sold on subsidised rates. Then, vegetable prices also shot up,” she said.

“Our biggest problem is unfair distribution of resources,” she said. “I hope that this inequality does not persist in 2023. We need to take steps to dismantle the system that allows for it,” she said.

Asked about the scarcity of essential food items round Christmas, officials at Deputy Commissioner’s Office said that the district administration had established two Christmas bazaars in the city where staples such as flour were available on special discounts. The officials claimed that adequate steps had been taken to facilitate the Christian community on their holy festival.

“The additional deputy commissioner (revenue) visited the Christmas markets himself and made sure that flour was being sold at a subsidy. He announced that the Christian community will get a special discount on all items including ghee, sugar, pulses,” said the officials.

The writer is bureau chief of The News in Multan. He may be reached at trisign69@yahoo.com