Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have acknowledged the role played by minorities in the development of country.
In a message on the occasion of Minorities' Day on Friday (August 11), President Alvi said that the minorities in the country enjoy all political, economic and social rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.
The president recalled the Constitution guarantees the political, economic and social rights of all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs or ethnicity.
Quoting the teachings of Islam, he said our religion emphatically advocate for the protection of minority rights and equality among all people, fostering a spirit of harmony and unity within our diverse society.
"Pakistan has consistently made efforts for the welfare and upkeep of minorities, including the reservation of 5% quota in government jobs, and separate seats of minorities in both houses of Parliament to encourage their active participation in the political and economic development of country," the president said.
President Alvi called upon religious scholars and the media to educate the society about the rights of minorities and promote a culture of love, tolerance, brotherhood and unity in the country.
Reposing complete confidence on minorities to continue to play their pivotal role in the national development process, the president said through our collective efforts, we can forge a stronger and more prosperous Pakistan, where every individual can thrive and contribute their unique talents to the nation's development.
In a message in connection with the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tributes to the minorities for their contribution in nation-building and socio-economic development of the country.
“On the National Day of Minorities, I join the nation in paying rich tributes to our non-Muslim citizens for their valuable contributions in nation-building and assure them of the government’s consistent and unwavering commitment to protecting their rights,” the prime minister.
He said today the nation celebrated the role and contributions of the non-Muslim citizens for peace, progress and prosperity of Pakistan on the National Day of Minorities.
“Our minority communities are part and parcel of the Pakistani nationalism. From the freedom struggle to this day, they have contributed meaningfully to building the country. From defence to education to health to social service, there is no walk of life where our non-Muslim brothers and sisters have not played their role in the socio-economic development of the country,” he added.
The Day, he said also drew the attention to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s historic speech at the floor of the legislative assembly where he laid down the rules of engagement for the citizens with the newly created state of Pakistan. “The very idea of Pakistan is incomplete without our non-Muslim citizens. The ‘white’ colour of our flag symbolizes their place in the body politic of Pakistan,” he added.
PM Shehbaz said from Jogendranath Mandal, Pakistan’s first law minister to Dr Maira Phailbus to Dr Ruth Pfau to Justice Dorab Patel, the list of our Pakistani non-Muslim personalities of eminence was long whose contributions to public service continued to be celebrated.
He said interfaith harmony was a marked feature of the national identity. Pakistan is a strong advocate of pluralism, and diversity.
“Our Constitution guarantees the provision of social, political, religious and economic rights to all citizens without any discrimination of caste, creed and colour,” he said adding “I am happy to state that the empowerment of our minority communities has taken the center-stage of public policy, as successive governments have allocated resources and implemented policies aimed at their mainstreaming and empowerment”.
The prime minister urged all segments of society to forge unity in their ranks.
He said nothing was more powerful than the spirit of togetherness in a nation, for it powered its imagination and strengthened its resolve to overcome the odds.
“‘Unity, faith and discipline’, the Quaid’s motto, shows us the way forward to navigate the challenges.” PM Shehbaz asserted.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Mohsin Naqvi said that minorities have a very important role in the development, prosperity, peace and unity of Pakistan.
In his message on the occasion, the Punjab CM said our religion and constitution teach us to treat everyone respectfully.
Naqvi said that the father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam has also advised the protection of the rights of minorities.
He said that the Punjab government is striving to eliminate discrimination and promote social harmony.
