LAHORE:
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has stressed that implementation of the five per cent job quota for minorities will be ensured and focal persons have been nominated after the formation of minority cells in 40 government departments.
Speaking to a delegation of the National Commission for Minorities Affairs led by its Chairman Chela Ram Kwelani, he said focal persons had also been nominated for the minority cells in the nine divisions, 36 districts and 144 tehsils of the province.
The cells would help timely resolve issues pertaining to the minority communities at the grassroots, he added.
Provincial Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Minister Ejaz Alam, chief secretary and secretary for human rights and minorities’ affairs were present, while the delegation that called on the CM included representatives of religious minorities and Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad.
The chief minister said Rs1 billion had been allocated for a minorities’ development fund, while scholarships were also being given to non-Muslim students to continue studies from matriculation to PhD. Meanwhile, Rs2.5 billion was being spent on welfare projects for minority communities in the financial year 2021-22, he added.
The two per cent quota for the non-Muslim students had opened the doors of higher education to them, he said, pledging to also fulfil the job quota for minorities.
“The Constitution of Pakistan ensures full protection of the rights of the minority communities and they enjoy equal rights in the country. Meanwhile, the interfaith policy has also been devised and more steps would be taken to ensure the welfare of the religious minorities in future,” the CM concluded.
Chela Ram Kwelani appreciated the steps taken for the protection of rights of religious minorities. He said a good job was being done to protect the minorities’ rights in Punjab.
A delegation led by Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Barrister Khalid Khursheed also called on Punjab CM Buzdar and both leaders agreed to expand bilateral cooperation along with the promotion of interprovincial harmony.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2022.
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