Campaign against Covid stigma lauded

Punjab minorities minister briefs CM on the drive

LAHORE:

Punjab Minister of Human Rights, Minorities Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Ijaz Alam Augustine has said that a campaign to curb hate mongering and stigmatising different groups for allegedly spreading Covid-19 in the country has been appreciated on a large scale.

This media campaign was launched by the ministry with the support of the Youth Development Foundation (YDF) - an organisation working on peace and harmony - and comprised messages of peace from scholars from different schools of thought and religions.

The campaign executed by the YDF and the ministry covered Lahore, Okara, Multan, DG Khan and Bahawalpur.

The minister said that he had presented a spotlight report of the drive titled ‘A campaign to counter hate and discrimination during Covid-19’ to Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.

“The CM appreciated the campaign and said he had himself seen billboards, banners and streamers carrying the messages that discouraged blame game regarding the spread of Covid-19,” he said.The CM also assured his full support to the YDF and the human rights ministry in its upcoming work for the cause.

The YDF team collaborated with the ministry and recorded messages of religious leaders and other notables. “These messages were aired on TV and radio channels, and cable television networks,” said YDF Executive Director Shahid Rehmat.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2020.