SYED DANISH HUSSAIN & ISRAR AHMED
ISLAMABAD/ RAWALPINDI - Gift giving, feasting, and partying all night, the Christian community on Monday night kicked off celebrations, after all today (Tuesday) is a Christmas-for-all jubilation.
Despite overall worsening law and order situation in the country, the community members from across the federal capital enthusiastically attended the late night special prayers aimed to begin the most-celebrated Day across the world with festivity. Special prayer services were held at Full Gospel Assembly Church, F-6/2, Saint Thomas Church, G-7, and Khatoon-e-Fatima Church in F-8, where Christian religious scholars also prayed for prosperity of Pakistan - a country where the members of minority groups are not allowed Constitutionally, in a manifestation of great discrimination, to hold certain public offices such as the President and the Prime Minister.
Unlike past practice, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) this year did a little and too late in terms of decorating the city with Christmas trees on the eve of Christmas.
It was after the hectic efforts of Member Administration of the Authority who made available funds to purchase, install and then light up a Christmas tree at Zero Point Interchange, contrary to the fact that past year the Authority had installed around 13 Christmas trees to make the Christian community happy.
Till Monday night, the community members remained busy in buying new apparels from the roadside stalls and shops meant for low-income strata of the society.
Unhappy over the low-deployment of police personnel at important churches, Shahzad Masih, a government servant, standing in front of Full Gospel Assembly Church, F-6/2 claimed that that year the security measures taken by the federal police were not up to the mark.
According to Capital’s police, more than 300 policemen will be deployed around Churches in Islamabad on Christmas Day and foolproof security arrangements would be ensured with special checking outside the churches.
“We will feast, party and pile gifts under the Christmas trees,” Terrance J Sigamony, a journalist by profession, said, while informing about his plans for the Christmas Day.
The members of Christian community have decorated the evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, as a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas.
The tree is usually decked with different ornaments including baubles, small jingling bells painted gold or silver, stars of different shapes and sizes, pine cones, apples, candies, tinsel and balloons made from glass, metal, wood and ceramic. An angel and star is often placed at the top of the tree representing the host of angels.
Meanwhile, CDA will be organising a colourful Christmas Festival starting from December 25 here at Open Air Theatre in connection with the Christmas Celebration - 2012.
The purpose of the Christmas Festival is to show solidarity with the Christian community especially with the Christian employees of CDA on the eve of Christmas - 2012, said a statement. 
Different colourful programmes have been planned for the festival including comedy theatre by the prominent actors, musical show, painting competition for the youngsters, interesting games for the kids, different stalls for the women including bangles fancy shoes, clothes and refreshment stalls on concession rates, while entry to the Christmas Festival is free for participants and visitors.
Meanwhile, the recent price hike in daily use items in various markets and bazaars has dampened the Christmas celebration of Christian community in the city.
The Christian community will mark Christmas celebrations today (Tuesday) across the country. In this regard tens of hundreds of people belonging to Christian community thronged the markets and shopping malls at Lalkurti, Saddar, Raja Bazaar, Chaklala Scheme III, Commercial Market, Kuri Road and Sadiqabad to buy essential items for them and their family members. Most of the people come from Christian Colony Mumtaz Maket, James Town Shahpur, Dhoke Elahi Bux, Shahroon Colony Soan, Baitsada Colony Misrial Road, Shamasabad and Shakriyal.
However, the surge in prices of daily use items such as garments, grocery, shoes, cosmetics, gift items and bakery products have made it very difficult for them including salaried class Christian community to celebrate their religious festival with zeal and enthusiasm.   
A survey conducted by TheNation on Monday in different markets and bazaars revealed that prices of Christmas related items as well as other commodities have almost doubled as compared to the last year.
A large number of families have returned their homes with empty hands because of high rates of the daily use commodities.
Shohaib Bhatti, a motor mechanic and resident of James Town, who arrived at Saddar along with his family for Christmas shopping, said that sky rocketing prices of daily use items have affected the people very badly. He said that he came here to buy new shoes and jackets and sweaters for his wife and three sons but has changed his mind due to exuberated prices of these items.
He said that price of a ladies sweater has now risen to Rs 1400 to 1600. The cost of a pair of baby shoes has been increased to Rs 700 to Rs 300. “I am an ordinary motor mechanic with daily wage of Rs 400. It is very difficult for me to buy these things on such a high price,” he said.
“Christmas is the biggest festivity for us but the swell in prices of clothes, shoes and bakery items keep us from away celebrating the event with enthusiasm” said Aini a housewife living in Lalkurti.
She said that she celebrated this occasion with simplicity with her family and friends but her children wanted her to spend more. “My husband is a labourer and earns Rs 6,000 in a month. It is impossible for me to fulfill all the demands of my children in this era of price hike” she added. Ayub Francis, a carpenter at Adyala Road, said that it has become difficult for the poor people to meet their daily expenses.  He said that Christians were no longer able to celebrate Christmas with zeal because of rising prices of clothes, shoes, cakes and other kitchen items.