LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to protecting the rights, dignity and security of minority communities, saying minorities are an integral part of Pakistan’s social fabric.
In her message on National Minorities Day, she paid tribute to minority communities for their contributions to the country’s development and prosperity. She said that, in Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan, all citizens should be able to practice their faith freely and live with security and dignity.
Maryam Nawaz said the Punjab government was pursuing policies aimed at improving minorities’ access to education, healthcare, employment and welfare. She highlighted the Minority Card, under which eligible minority families are receiving quarterly financial assistance of Rs10,500.
She also pointed to legislation for minority communities, including the Punjab Sikh Marriage Act 2024, which gave legal recognition to the Anand Karaj ceremony, as well as the Hindu Marriage Act 2017.
The chief minister said funds for minority development and welfare programmes, as well as grants for religious festivals, had been increased during the current financial year.
She added that the preservation and restoration of historic gurdwaras, churches and temples remained among the government’s priorities, while scholarships for minority students and other educational initiatives were also being implemented.
Maryam Nawaz said festivals including Baisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Christmas and Easter were now being officially celebrated across Punjab and assured that the minority quota system would be implemented in accordance with the rules.
She said the government was committed not only to protecting minority rights but also to ensuring their participation in every sphere of society, adding that Punjab was moving towards a society based on tolerance, harmony and mutual respect.
