For the first time in the history of Pakistan, a Christian chapel has been opened in an Islamic university. This is the church of St Mary, housed in the atrium of the Agriculture University of Faisalabad. It was inaugurated, on April 15th by Joseph Arshad, archbishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi and president of the Pakistani Episcopal Conference, formerly titular of the diocese of Faisalabad. During the ceremony, he said: “The presence of a church inside the university enclosure will offer a message of love and harmony throughout the country. Christians will come here to pray for the progress and prosperity of the institute and of the country.”
The new chapel is a novelty for the majority Muslim country. Up until now, more than 177 universities and colleges have been allowed to build only Islamic mosques. Christian places of worship were only allowed in Christian institutions. At the same time, there are no Hindu or gurdwara temples for Sikhs.
