Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that religious minorities are a pride of the country and steps need to be taken to ensure their rights. He said Pakistan is a strong refuge for them where they have complete freedom and rights. He said in an atmosphere of subcontinent drenched with caste ,creed and ethical prejudices, Pakistan is a safe haven for religious minorities where universal human values based on equality and love with humanity have great importance.
The CM said religious minorities had been brought into national mainstream of development equally in Pakistan so that no one should lag behind in the race of development. He further said elimination of poverty in the subcontinent was essential where everyone had equal opportunities of progress. He said a separate department had been set up for the welfare of religious minorities in the province. He said the department was playing an important role with regard to fulfilling the educational needs of non-Muslim students and welfare of the minorities.
He expressed these views while talking to a representative delegation of Dalit Scholars of South Asia on Saturday. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Special Assistants Zaeem Hussain Qadri and Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz, prominent columnist Ata-ul-Haq Qasmi, information secretary and intellectuals were also present.
Shahbaz said special importance had been given to the progress and prosperity of all religious minorities including Hindu community in Pakistan. Terming the religious minorities as a pride for Pakistan, he said special attention was being paid to the protection and looking after of religious and historical places of minorities. He said Lahore, Taxila, Katas Raj, Pakpattan, Nankana Sahib, Hassan Abdal and other places in the country attracted non-Muslims all over the world due to their religious and historical importance. Shahbaz said scheduled caste community under the leadership of Jogindar Nath Mandal fully supported All India Muslim League during the struggle of creation of Pakistan. Similarly, Christian community also took part in the struggle of creation of Pakistan shoulder to shoulder with Quaid-e-Azam, he added. The CM said participation of non-Muslim community in the struggle of establishment of Pakistan was reflective of the fact that non-Muslim communities of subcontinent considered themselves safer with Muslims in Pakistan. The CM said besides setting up a separate department for their welfare, religious minorities were also fully benefiting from Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, Daanish school system, Aashiyana housing scheme and other such public welfare projects. He said the social gap between the poor and the rich was being reduced through Daanish school system in the province. He said the children facing financial constraints would be prepared as future leaders in Pakistan from the platform of Daanish school system and poverty or lack of resources will not be a hurdle in the way of their progress. Shahbaz said human societies based on social equality and fair system of justice achieve the goals of development and prosperity expeditiously and steps of Punjab government based on public welfare have accelerated the pace of national development in which every person played their constructive role with devotion and dedication. He said that Dr BR Ambedkar was the messenger of equality and human welfare in the subcontinent who had rendered invaluable services for the welfare of Dalit community.
Secretary of Indian National Dalit Forum Revi Kumar expressing his views on this occasion said that they could never forget the love and sincerity received in Pakistan. Coordinator of Bangladesh Dalit Pershad Bekash Das and General Secretary Ashok Das said that the hospitality of Pakistanis was unforgettable. Prof. Mujahid Mansoori said that Daanish school system was an excellent project of Punjab government due to which opportunities of quality education have become available to the poor male and female students. The CM also gave commemorative shields to the Dalit scholars.
Minorities are our pride, says Shahbaz
