Punjab protecting minorities’ rights: CM Maryam

LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday made a resolution to follow the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for the freedom and protection of rights of the minorities.

Paying tribute to the minorities community, the chief minister, in her message on the National Minorities Day, said: “Pakistan of Quaid-i-Azam is a homeland to all, where everyone is safe and free to practice his or her respective faith.”

She said the minorities were the beauty and pride of Pakistani society and there would be no compromise on their dignity, honour, protection and development.

“The Punjab government is 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 community for the first time in history. Under the initiative, a sum of Rs10,500 was being provided to the 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 while long-pending Hindu Marriage Act 2017 had also been approved.

The chief minister said the provincial government was making it easier for the minority community to access education, healthcare and employment. She added that 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 and added that scholarships had been introduced for minority students.

Baisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Christmas and Easter were now being celebrated on a larger scale at the official level in Punjab, she said.

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

The CM declared that 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.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2026

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