CM Maryam vows to safeguard rights of minorities
She highlighted, 'We pay tribute to all our minority brothers and sisters who always remain active for the development and prosperity of their beloved homeland.' In her message on the National Minorities Day, the CM said that minorities are the symbol of pride of a Pakistani society. She maintained, 'There will be no compromise on the honour, dignity, protection and progress of minorities. The Punjab government is strictly adhering to its policy of granting minorities complete rights for their education, development and welfare.'
She noted, 'For the first time in the history, Punjab has achieved the distinction and honour of introducing 'Minority Card' for the welfare of the minority community. Upto 50,000 minority brothers and sisters are being given Rs. 10,500 quarterly through minority cards. The number of minority cards will be increased to 75,000.'
She affirmed, 'Punjab attained the honour of passing the first Sikh Marriage Act 2024, now 'Anand Karj' has been given legal status. The pending Hindu Marriage Act 2017 has been approved in 2025. The Punjab government is taking numerous steps so as to make it possible for the minority community residing in Punjab to have easy access to education, health and employment.'
The CM revealed, 'In the current financial year, Rs 8 billion have been allocated for the development and non-development budget of the minority community. Grants for religious festivals of the minority community have been enhanced from Rs 60 million to Rs 366 million. A substantial amount has been allocated in the current budget for the restoration of 40 historical gurdwaras, 25 churches and five temples.'
She added, 'The Samadhi Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore, the Shri Krishna Temple in Rawalpindi and the Church of Pakistan are being rehabilitated and restored. Scholarship funds worth Rs 60 million were allocated for the minority students.'
The CM outlined, 'Live courses have been launched in Youhanabad, in the first phase out of which 1,000 students will benefit, and in the second phase 10,000 students will benefit from it. Baisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Christmas and Easter were celebrated in Punjab for the first time at the official level. The minority quota system is being implemented in letter & spirit in the province.'
She vowed, 'The Punjab government is the guardian of the rights of minorities and is fully committed to grant them their rightful share in every field of development and progress. We are moving towards a society where love, tolerance and brotherhood will be our hallmark and sole identity. Minorities are the beautiful colour of Pakistan and we will never let this colour fade away.'
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Jawad Ahmad releases new patriotic anthem ahead of 78th Independence Day
Renowned Pakistani singer, Jawad Ahmad, has released a new song to mark Pakistan's 78th Independence Day. The song, which aims to inspire the nation, highlights the importance of patriotism and unity for all the people living in Pakistan. The anthem, created by the leader of the Barabri Party Pakistan, presents a unique perspective on national pride. It emphasises the value of the homeland and underscores the collective responsibility of citizens towards their country. Ahmad's powerful voice brings the song to life, with direction by Dilwaiz Ali Khan. The music for the anthem was composed by Sajid Hussain and Faisal Iqbal. The song begins with themes of courage, strength, determination, passion, and hard work, encapsulated in the powerful words "This is my country, these are my people." The lyrics of the anthem portray the spirit of Pakistanis, urging them to live fearlessly like eagles, fight bravely like lions, and stay united in love and defence of their homeland. The song serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for the country and the importance of standing together as one nation.
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Qureshi will follow party line after acquittal: Salman Akram Raja
Listen to article Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Tuesday said that Shah Mahmood Qureshi will continue to follow the instructions of party founder Imran Khan after his release and will not act independently of party policy. Speaking to the media near Adiala Jail, he said: 'Only the founder's word holds weight within the party.' He declined to speculate on Qureshi's future role, stating that no decisions could be made without the founder's direction. Raja's comments came after an Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore issued two separate release warrants for Qureshi, addressed to the Superintendent of Central Jail Kot Lakhpat. The senior PTI leader had been acquitted on August 11 in connection with cases linked to the May 9 riots, which followed the arrest of Imran Khan. Read More: ATC orders Shah Mahmood Qureshi's release after acquittal Raja further clarified that the PTI's August 14 programme was not a political protest. 'It is a celebration of Pakistan's independence, where our supporters will also express solidarity with the party and its founder,' he said. He criticised the current political climate, claiming that Pakistan's judicial system lacks independence, and that the political freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution are not being upheld. The PTI leader described the legal proceedings against party workers as unjust, often reliant on repetitive evidence and police testimony. He also condemned the authorities for blocking access routes and allegedly using force against workers attempting to meet Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi at Adiala Jail. Also Read: Bilawal dismisses 27th Constitutional Amendment rumours as 'baseless' 'According to the court's order and the jail manual, family and lawyers were supposed to meet them today, yet we were denied access once again,' Raja said. He added that Imran's sisters, Aleema and Noreen, were also barred from entering and eventually staged a protest. He accused law enforcement of deploying containers and using batons to disperse the gathering. 'Several workers were injured. It's dictatorship—and we will stand against it, no matter the consequences,' he said. Earlier in the day, Aleema and Noreen were denied entry despite attempting to walk to the jail on foot. After over five hours of protest, they were taken into custody along with several workers and moved to Chakri Interchange, where they were released later in the evening. The arrests sparked brief protests, but all detained workers were released shortly afterward and dispersed peacefully.
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
SC questions LHC's decision in Imran bail rejection ruling
The Supreme Court issued a notice on Tuesday to the prosecution in a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, challenging the Lahore High Court's (LHC) rejection of his post-arrest bail in eight cases linked to May 9 incidents. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and comprising Justice Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the case. The bench headed by CJP Afridi observed that the court would not give any final finding that could affect the merits of the pending case. CJP Afridi asked the both the defence and prosecution counsels to assist the court on the legal question of whether final observations can be made in a bail order. He noted that the LHC had given a final opinion in its bail decision, raising the question of whether such findings were permissible. Read: PTI heavyweights jailed for 'attacks on state institutions' Earlier, LHC rejected bail petitions filed by PTI founder in eight cases linked to the May 9, 2023, riots, prompting sharp criticism from the party, which called the ruling a "blatant miscarriage of justice". The decision, delivered by a two-member bench led by Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, followed the conclusion of arguments from both prosecution and defence. Imran's legal team had argued that the former prime minister was implicated without credible evidence while he was already in custody and denied any involvement in the violence. Before the apex court on Tuesday, Punjab government counsel Zulfiqar Naqvi told the court that no notice had been issued to them in the matter, to which the CJP said the notice would be issued today. Denying PTI counsel Salman Safdar's request to prepone the hearing, the court slated the hearing for August 19 as per schedule. Protests on May 9, 2023, broke out across the country after Imran's arrest from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC), where he appeared for a hearing in connection with a graft case. Several civil and military installations were damaged during the protests and ensuing chaos. Imran, who has been jailed since August 2023 after multiple convictions, remains a central figure in Pakistani politics despite his ouster in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote. Several PTI leaders and workers remain incarcerated over the May 9 incidents, while others have been granted bail.
