National Minorities’ Day marked: Punjab CM vows to follow Quaid’s vision

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday reiterated her resolve to follow the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for the freedom and rights of minorities.

Paying tribute to brothers and sisters from the minorities, actively contributing to the development and prosperity of the country, the chief minister, in her message on National Minorities Day, said: “Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam is a homeland for all, where everyone is safe and free to practice their respective faith.”

She said minorities were the beauty and pride of Pakistani society, adding that there would be no compromise on their dignity, honour, protection and development. The Punjab government, she said, was pursuing a policy of ensuring minorities their full rights to education, development and welfare.

The CM said Punjab had earned the distinction of introducing the “Minority Card” for the minority community for the first time in history. Under the initiative, Rs10,500 were being provided to minority families every quarter through the Minority Cards.

She said Punjab also had the distinction of being the first province to pass the Sikh Marriage Act 2024, under which “Anand Karaj” had been granted legal status. The long-pending Hindu Marriage Act 2017 had also been approved, she added.

The chief minister said the provincial government was making it easier for the minority community to access education, healthcare and employment. She said the development and non-development budgets for minorities, as well as grants for religious festivals, had been substantially increased in the current financial year. “Construction and restoration of Punjab’s historic gurdwaras, churches and temples are among our priorities,” she said.

She said scholarships had been introduced for minority students and live courses had been launched in Youhanabad. Baisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Christmas and Easter were now being celebrated on a larger scale at the official level in Punjab, she added.

The CM Punjab said the minority quota system was being implemented in letter and spirit across the province.

“We are not only protectors of minority rights but are also committed to ensuring their rightful share in every field,” she said.

The chief minister said Punjab was rapidly moving towards a society where love and tolerance would become its hallmark. “Minorities are the beautiful colours of Pakistan, and we will never allow these colours to fade,” she said.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026