Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has emphatically stated that Pakistan is a land of peace and tolerance where there is no room for hatred, chaos, and terrorism. He was addressing a ceremony held at Prime Minister House, Islamabad, in connection with the Diwali festival. The Prime Minister paid tribute to the services and contributions of Pakistan’s minority communities in different fields of life.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister highlighted the presence of representatives of different religions at the event, embodying the ideals envisioned by Pakistan’s founding father, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, where all citizens enjoy equal rights and freedoms. He stated that both Muslim and non-Muslim Pakistanis continue to move in unison to thwart any nefarious design against the country.
Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the entire Pakistani nation stands united and resolute alongside the security forces to defeat the menace of terrorism and hatred from the country. He noted that the majority Muslim population of Pakistan has always expressed strong indignation at any despicable acts against minority communities and stood in unequivocal solidarity with them in such times.
The Prime Minister also highlighted some of the major policy steps taken by the government to ensure the protection of minorities’ rights in Pakistan and promote interfaith harmony. These include the representation of all minority communities in Parliament, a five percent quota in government jobs, scholarships for minority community students, the Interfaith Harmony Policy approved by the federal cabinet, and the National Commission for Minorities’ Rights Bill passed by Parliament.
Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, addressing the ceremony, stated that all Pakistanis stand united and will not allow anyone to sow the seeds of hatred or discord in society. He mentioned that the purpose of celebrating Diwali is to impart a message of peace and tolerance across the world. Minister of State for Religious Affairs Kesoo Mal Kheal Das added that Pakistan is an emblem of interfaith harmony and peace in the world.