‘Govt taking unprecedented steps for minorities’

LAHORE:

Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs (HR&MA) Ejaz Alam Augustine on Tuesday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government was taking revolutionary steps for the religious minorities.

Addressing a seminar at a local hotel on the topic of 'National human rights protection mechanism, minority rights protection under the treaty obligation', he said the HR&MA Department was dedicated to protecting and promoting human rights, particularly religious minority rights and taking several initiatives for equality.

The provincial minister maintained that primary focus of the department was to ensure protection of human rights and strengthening the minorities, adding that equal opportunities were being provided to all minorities in development and prosperity of the country.

He said that representation of religious minorities was being ensured in all government departments. He highlighted that the department was also in the process of curbing the alleged abduction, conversion and forced marriages of religious minority girls.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2021.