Deepavali – Artifex.News

Top Pakistani leaders extend Deepavali greetings to Hindus

admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:17:00 +0000

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Muslim and non-Muslim Pakistanis continue to move in unison to thwart any nefarious design against the country. File.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Pakistan’s top leaders on Monday (October 20, 2025) extended Deepavali greetings to the minority Hindu community members, reiterating commitment to protect the rights of minorities in the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is a land of peace and tolerance where there is no room for hatred, chaos and terrorism.

At a ceremony held at Prime Minister House here in connection with Deepavali, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the services and contributions of Pakistan’s minority communities in different fields of life.

“Presence of representatives of different religions in this event embodies the very ideals of Pakistan as were envisioned by its founding father Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah where all citizens enjoy equal rights and freedoms,” he said.

Mr. Shehbaz said that Muslim and non-Muslim Pakistanis continue to move in unison to thwart any nefarious design against the country. “The entire Pakistani nation stands united and resolute alongside the security forces to defeat the menace of terrorism and hatred from the country,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the majority Muslim population of Pakistan has always expressed strong indignation at any despicable acts against the minority communities of the country and stood in unequivocal solidarity with them in any such times.

He also highlighted some of the major policy steps taken by the government to ensure protection of minorities rights in Pakistan and promote interfaith harmony.

Mr. Shehbaz mentioned the representation of all minority communities in the Parliament, five per cent quota in government jobs, scholarships for the minority community students, the Interfaith Harmony Policy approved by the federal cabinet and the National Commission for Minorities’ Rights Bill passed by Parliament.

Minister of State for Religious Affairs Kesoo Mal Kheal Das said on the occasion that Pakistan is an emblem of interfaith harmony and peace in the world. According to state-run Radio Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari in his message said that the festival of Deepavali “reminds us of the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil”.

He noted that the Constitution guaranteed equal rights and complete freedom of religion to all citizens.

Mr. Zardari also lauded the services of Hindu community in education, commerce, and public service.

Earlier, Mr. Shehbaz in his message extended his “heartfelt greetings” to the Hindu community in Pakistan and around the world, wishing them a happy Deepavali.

“As homes and hearts are illuminated with the light of Diwali, may this festival dispel darkness, foster harmony, and guide us all toward a future of peace, compassion, and shared prosperity,” he said in a post on social media platform X.

“The spirit of Deepavali that embodies light over darkness, good over evil, and hope over despair inspires our collective resolve to overcome the challenges confronting our societies, from intolerance to inequality,” he said.

He called on people to work together to ensure that all citizens could live in peace and contribute to progress, regardless of their faith or background.

Published – October 20, 2025 11:47 pm IST

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Holiday declared on November 1 for govt. offices, schools, and colleges in T.N.

admin — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 07:35:12 +0000

The Tamil Nadu government has declared November 1 (Friday), the day after Deepavali, a holiday for government offices, public sector undertakings, schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.

To compensate for the holiday, the government has ordered for November 9 (Saturday) to be a working day, according to a release issued on Saturday (October 19, 2024).

Published – October 19, 2024 01:05 pm IST

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Petrol, diesel sales fall ahead of start of festive season

admin — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:52:38 +0000

Petrol sales dropped to 1.17 million tonnes during the first half of October from 1.29 million tonnes a year earlier.
| Photo Credit: Manvender Vashist

Petrol and diesel sales fell in the first half of October ahead of the start of the festival season that is expected to boost consumption, preliminary data of state-owned firms showed.

Last year, Durga Puja/Dussehra as well as Diwali fell in October. This year the festival season, when consumption picks up, starts in the second half of October.

Petrol sales by three state-owned fuel retailers fell 9% year-on-year, the first drop in two months. Diesel consumption dropped 3.2%.

The decline was largely because of the larger base of last year.

Petrol sales dropped to 1.17 million tonnes during the first half of October from 1.29 million tonnes a year earlier.

Sales dropped 9% month-on-month as well.

Consumption of diesel, the most consumed fuel in the country — accounting for about two-fifths of the demand, dropped to 2.99 million tonnes during October 1 to 15 from 3.09 million tonnes a year back. Month-on-month sales were, however, up 9.6% compared with 2.73 million tonnes in the first half of September.

Diesel sales typically fall in monsoon months as rains lower demand in the agriculture sector which uses the fuel for irrigation, harvesting and transportation. Also, rains slow vehicular movements. This had led to a fall in diesel consumption in the last three months. Since the end of the monsoon, consumption has risen month-on-month.

Consumption of diesel had soared 6.7% and 9.3%in April and May, respectively, as agriculture demand picked up and cars yanked up air-conditioning to beat the summer heat. It started to taper in the second half of June after the monsoon set in. It has continued to fall since.

Suppliers’ group OPEC sees India’s oil demand expanding on average by 2,20,000 barrels per day on the back of vigorous economic growth.

Consumption of petrol during October 1-15 was 12%more than in the COVID-marred October 2021 and 21.7% more than in pre-pandemic October 2019.

Diesel consumption was up 23.4% over October 1-15 in 2021 and 23.1% compared to October 2019.

With the continuing rise in passenger traffic at airports, jet fuel (ATF) demand rose 5.7% to 2,95,200 tonnes during first fortnight of October against the same period last year.

It was 36.5% more than in October 1-15, 2021, but 6.6% lower than pre-COVID October 2019.

Month-on-month jet fuel sales were almost 2% lower compared to 3,00,900 tonnes in September 1-15, 2023.

Cooking gas LPG sales were up 1.2% year-on-year at 1.25 million tonnes in the first half of October. LPG consumption was 10.6% higher than in October 1-15, 2021 and 153% more than in pre-COVID October 2019.

Month-on-month, LPG demand fell 7.5% against 1.36 million tonnes of LPG consumption during September 1-15, the data showed.

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