The National Minorities’ Day was observed on Thursday to honour religious minorities for their contribution in Pakistan’s creation in 1947 and nation-building.
Punjab Human Rights and Minority Affairs Department in collaboration with FACES Pakistan organized an event at a local hotel on “Religious Diversity and Economic Development. On the occasion, FACES Pakistan President Javaid William presented a book – Our Diverse Land – to Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw and another book – Parcham Jaisay Log – to the guests.
Addressing participants, Human Rights and Minority Affairs Secretary Rizwana Naveed said that commendable services of religious minorities are a glorious chapter in Pakistan’s national independence movement. She said that the minorities have given a considerable contribution in different fields, including education and health. She reaffirmed the government’s resolve for the betterment and welfare of the minorities and their inclusion in the national life.
Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw while addressing the audience said that all communities must act now to solve problems ranging from poverty to inequality of opportunities. “We must continue to respect for sacredness of every human life,” he said, and appreciated efforts of religious minorities in economic development, and the social welfare sector. The National Youth Council for Peace and Interfaith Harmony staged a drama while Aftab Javaid presented a poem on the occasion.
Dr Muhammad Jawad, Advocate Javaid Gill, Dr Kalyan Singh, Dr Majeed Able, Dr Masood Mujahid and other speakers also paid a tribute to all members of the religious minorities for their contribution in social, economic and national development of Pakistan. National Council for Peace and Interfaith Harmony Chairman Allama Shakeel-ur Rehman Nasir also spoke on the occasion.
“You are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state,” this was a policy statement of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his opening speech to the Constituent Assembly on 11 August 1947.
