LAHORE: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that minorities have always played a significant role in Pakistan’s stability, progress and prosperity.
The Prime Minister was addressing a ceremony in connection with the National Day of Minorities in Lahore.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said the constitution of Pakistan fully guarantees minorities’ rights. He assured that the rights of the minority communities will be protected as enshrined in the Constitution and as per the wisdom of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The Prime Minister reassured of equal opportunities for minorities to grow in the Pakistani society. He said all possible measures will be taken for the protection of minorities.
He acknowledged the leading role and contribution of minority communities in the fields of education, health, business and defence.
He said for the people and the government of the country, there should be a unified sense of purpose.
“Our minority community played a key role in the Pakistan Movement and, since the creation of Pakistan, has been contributing immensely to nation-building,” the premier said.
On this day the founder of the country had given a historical address in which he said ‘All the communities from whichever religion they belong to are free to go to their respective places of worships’.
He urged all segments of society to promoting interfaith harmony, the spirit of love, tolerance, brotherhood, and unity to make Pakistan a stable country.
Meanwhile, in his message in connection with the National Day of Minorities, President Asif Ali Zardari said that minorities in Pakistan enjoy all political, economic and social rights which have been guaranteed by the Constitution.
President Zardari said on this day, we reaffirm our commitment to the promise made by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on 11th August 1947, to the country’s minorities to protect their rights and religious freedoms.
The President said the government has taken a number of steps for the political, social and economic empowerment of minorities.
He urged all segments of society to educate the people about their rights and work to promote interfaith harmony, the spirit of love, tolerance, brotherhood and unity to make Pakistan a strong country.
Asif Ali Zardari expressed confidence that the minorities of Pakistan would continue to play a positive role towards the country’s development.
In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to minorities for their outstanding role in the country’s development and prosperity.
The Prime Minister said that the purpose of celebrating the day is to express solidarity with the minorities living in Pakistan and to acknowledge their services to the state of Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz said that our minority community played a key role in the Pakistan Movement and since the creation of Pakistan, has been contributing immensely to the nation-building.
Alluding to the historic speech of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August 11, 1947, Shehbaz Sharif said that complete religious freedom has been given to minorities.
He expressed commitment to protect the rights of minorities and their overall development and prosperity.
