President, PM pledge equality for minorities
PM Shehbaz says minorities living in Pakistan were an integral part of the national fabric
On National Minorities Day, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to equality, religious freedom, and protection of minority rights. Zardari called for renewed dedication to justice, equality, tolerance, and service to humanity, while Sharif highlighted steps taken to strengthen constitutional and legal safeguards for minorities, including the National Commission for Minorities Act, 2025, Interfaith Harmony Policy 2025, and National Action Plan for Human Rights 2026.
President Zardari expressed pride in the contributions of minority communities to national development across various domains such as conflicts, wars, health, and education. He emphasized that the foundation of a strong, peaceful, and stable state rests on justice, equality, mutual respect, and protection of human dignity. The President Secretariat Media Wing quoted Zardari as stating, "Pakistan's true strength lies in its people who, setting their religious, cultural, and traditional differences aside, stand united under one national flag."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed that National Minorities Day serves as a reaffirmation of Pakistan's commitment to unity, peaceful coexistence, and equal opportunities for all communities. He recalled Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's affirmation of minority rights in 1947, emphasizing that people were free to practice their religion, caste, or creed without state interference.
The Prime Minister highlighted the pivotal role minority communities have played in Pakistan's progress and development across economic, educational, social, cultural, and political spheres.
Written by urgent.news from The Express Tribune - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
