President urges people to foster unity, harmony during Ramazan

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has urged people to make pledge to foster unity, harmony and discipline in their ranks and promote feelings of sacrifice and renunciation in the Holy month of Ramazan.

In a message on the occasion of arrival of Ramazan 2012/1433 Hijri, the President said, "I heartily felicitate Muslim Ummah, particularly all Pakistanis living inside and outside the country, on the arrival of month of Ramazan."

"I offer my gratitude to Allah for providing us an opportunity to enjoy blessings of the month of Ramazan."

The President expressed the hope that the countrymen will benefit from the blessings of the month of Ramazan.

"This blessed month every year provides a unique opportunity to Muslims during which they not only gain benevolence and bounty of Allah but purge their selves and have more fear of Allah in hearts," he added.

The President said fasting in the month of Ramazan imparts teaching to humans to restrain their self and control the worldly desires.

Ramazan highlights the characteristics of brotherhood, tolerance, restraint and mutual sympathy, he noted.

The President urged the people to make the pledge that on the arrival of this revered and venerated month they will make effort to seek favour from their Creator and undertake all endeavours to reform the society, so that extremism, terrorism and sectarianism can be eradicated.

He stressed that the society should also work for the progress and prosperity of the country and provide exemplary services for those people who were facing exploitation or can face oppression.

"Today we have to remember that Ramazan is a month of cleansing of soul and self accountability. This is a month of improvement of self and during this month, the objective of fasting is self-restraint, sacrifice, mutual sympathy and feelings. Allah Almighty should give us the strength that we benefit from the blessings and bounty of the month of Ramazan and improve life in this world and hereafter. Amen," he added. (APP)