‘Minorities playing equal role in uplift of country’

Minister says special measures being taken for the welfare of minorities

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs (HR&MA) Ejaz Alam Augustine said the followers of all religions have equal rights in Pakistan and minorities were playing an active role in national development.

The minister expressed these views while speaking at an event to mark Minorities Day on Wednesday.

The event was organised by the Punjab Human Rights and Minority Department at the Punjab Governor House.

Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and provincial ministers also attended the event.

He underlined minorities had a deep love for Pakistan and had rendered invaluable sacrifices for the country. The minister said the initiatives taken by the Punjab government for the Christian community have been applauded by all over the world.

Augustine said thanks to the special support of the chief minister, Christmas was celebrated at an official level. He added that the CM also announced a special grant of Rs30 million for minorities on the eve of Christmas.

Minister said the government has assigned a special human rights task force to preserve the rights of minorities. “Millions of rupees have been allocated in this fiscal year for brilliant students of minorities, whereas implementation of the 5% quota in the total number of advertised government jobs has been ensured and monitored.

He said the government has taken various initiatives, along with effective legislation, to protect the rights of minorities. “The Punjab government has taken a number of concrete steps for the welfare of common citizens, including promotion and protection of equal human rights, peace, tolerance and religious harmony.” He said human rights defenders (HRDs) had been providing legal assistance to the victims of any injustice and cruelty in all the districts of the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2019.