Equal rights: Rs30 million allocated for minority uplift: minister

Khalil Tahir Sindhu visits Yousafabad, Esa Nagari and Dawood Colony in Faisalabad.

LAHORE: Rs30 million has been released for developing settlements in Faisalabad where mostly minority citizens live, Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights Khalil Tahir Sindhu said on Wednesday.

He was talking to reporters after visiting some of the Christian localities in Faisalabad.

DCO Noorul Amin Mengal, Bishop of Asia Iftikhar Andaryas, Sports DO Tariq Nazir also accompanied the minister. Sindhu visited Yousafabad, Esa Nagari and Dawood Colony.



“The allocations show that the chief minister takes personal interest in the development and welfare of minorities,” Sindhu said.

He said that the government gave equal importance to the development of minorities. “Rs130 million has been released for the repair of roads and provision of basic facilities in Christian localities in five districts under the Chief Minister’s Special Package,” he said.

Sindhu said that more funds would be provided for the development of Christian localities. He directed the government departments to start development schemes in Maryamabad, Yousafabad, Esa Nagari, Dawood Colony and Rasool Park on a priority basis.

The DCO said that minority communities would not be ignored and all efforts would be made to complete the development work on time.

Later, the minister visited Convent School System in Dawood Colony and reviewed the facilities being provided to the children. Iftikhar Andaryas informed the minister that poor and orphaned children were provided admission in this school and its scope was being expanded. He said the government was hopeful about the outcomes.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2014.