PM lauds minorities’ contribution in national progress

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday commended the excellent role of minorities in the national progress and prosperity and reiterated government’s resolve to protect their rights.

In a message on the Minorities’ Day, the prime minister felicitated them on the observance of the day and said that they were committed to welfare of the minorities and on this day, pledged the resolve to strive further in this regard.

He said the government of Pakistan was taking practical steps for the welfare of the minorities. The allocation of special seats, besides employment opportunities on merit for the minorities, spoke volume about the provision of equal opportunities to all, adding minorities’ representation in all institutions were being appreciated.

The prime minister said that the objective of observance of the day at the official level was to express solidarity with the minorities and acknowledge their contributions for the State of Pakistan, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The minority communities had played vital role in the Pakistan Movement and since then had been playing their due role in the construction of motherland.

Referring to the historic speech of the Founder of the Nation, Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August 11, 1947 in the Constituent Assembly, the prime minister said that Quaid had announced complete religious freedom to minorities.

Under the Quaid’s vision, the August 11 was being observed as a day to acknowledge minorities’ contribution and their identity, he added.