CM assures minorities of employment share

Cuts Diwali cake with representatives of minority communities

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi cut a cake at a ceremony held to celebrate the Diwali festival along with representatives of the Hindu and other minority communities on Sunday.

Felicitating the country’s Hindu community, he said students from the religious minorities were being awarded scholarships from the matric to PhD levels in the government educational institutions. A two per cent quota has been fixed for the communities in the higher educational institutions. He said 50% of the scholarships in the province were being awarded in central,35% in south and 15% in northern Punjab.

He said directions had been issued to ensure implementation of the 5% quota in employment for the minority communities. The chief minister said scholarships of up to Rs50,000 were being awarded to the minority students obtaining over 50% marks from matriculation to the higher education level.

The CM underscored that safeguarding the rights of the minorities was the responsibility of the state. All the minorities, including the Hindu community, have equal rights and they are being provided equal opportunities to attain education.

He outlined that giving better treatment and respect to the minorities was the essence of Islam.

The CM was presented an Ajrak on behalf of the minority communities.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2022.