Non-Muslim countries can also move towards respecting Muslim festivals
KARACHI: The government has taken a great initiative by announcing public holidays on certain annual festivals of minority communities. It sends a message to the world that Pakistan is a country where minorities are given equal opportunities at the national level with attention and respect. It also promotes pluralism.
This initiative is a small step in the right direction, so that now, non-Muslim countries can also move towards respecting Muslim festivals, just like the United States did this year, by declaring Eid an official holiday for Muslims minorities, specifically in the state of New York. If we expect respect from other nations of the world, we must also show respect to their cultures, traditions and observances. This is what our founder stated after the partition; “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”
Areeba A Siddiqui
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2016.
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