Pakistani Christians should officially be registered as “Masihi” and not “Esaayi” the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has ordered.

Christian MPA Shakeel Ivan Khokhar has struggled greatly in order to get this directive officially issued.

The Member of Punjab Assembly wrote a petition to NADRA’s director, Muhammad Javed Iqbal, asking for the directions to be issued and for the use of Masihi for Christians in NADRA forms, data and records.

Additionally, all government departments have been ordered to use the word “Masihi” for Christians in the column for religion in official forms and documentations.

Christians in Pakistan have been demanding this change for a long time, and owing to the tireless efforts of Shakeel Ivan Khokhar, it has finally happened.

Previously, Christians documented as “Esaayi” in the official forms and the same word was used in the column for Religion in forms.