Karachi: Sindh Government Spokesperson Sukhdev Hemnani, on the occasion of National Minorities Day, said the Sindh Government remains committed to protecting the rights, dignity and equal citizenship of religious minorities, with its commitment reflected through progressive legislation, political representation, employment opportunities, institutional support and welfare measures.
Hemnani said the declaration of August 11 as National Minorities Day by President Asif Ali Zardari in 2009 was a landmark step that gave national recognition to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of equal citizenship. He said the decision reflected the principle that the rights of minorities are not a favour but a fundamental part of Pakistan’s democratic identity.
He said the PPP-led government under President Asif Ali Zardari took several historic measures for minority communities, including establishing a dedicated Ministry for Minority Affairs, introducing the 5% employment quota for minorities, expanding political representation by increasing number of reserved seats in Parliament, and strengthening welfare and educational support for minority citizens. “These measures reflected a clear commitment to bringing minorities into the mainstream as equal partners in the political, economic and social progress of Pakistan,” he said.
Hemnani said that continuing the same commitment under the leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh has introduced landmark legislation and practical measures aimed at protecting and empowering minority communities.
He highlighted the Sindh Protection of Communal Properties of Minorities Act, 2013, and the Sindh Hindu Marriage Act, 2016, as important legislative milestones for safeguarding the rights, identity and institutions of minority communities.
He added that, to ensure minorities are included as equal partners in decision-making, Sindh has provided significant representation to minority communities in key government positions, including the Cabinet.
Hemnani said the Sindh Government also provides enhanced security at minority places of worship during religious occasions and has established interfaith harmony bodies across the province to promote tolerance, dialogue and peaceful coexistence. He added the Sindh Government has also strengthened institutional support through the Minority Affairs Department, which provides scholarships to minority students, financial and medical assistance to deserving families, and marriage assistance.
He underscored that Sindh Government has ensured the inclusion of minority communities across its major initiatives, including the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF), Peoples Poverty Reduction Programme (PPRP) and solar energy programme, ensuring they benefit equally from development and welfare programmes.
Hemnani said Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has continued to carry forward the PPP’s commitment to an inclusive and progressive Pakistan, consistently advocating equality, religious freedom, democratic rights and protection for minorities. “From Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, this has remained a consistent democratic commitment: Pakistan belongs equally to all its citizens,” he said.
Hemnani added that National Minorities Day should serve as a reminder of Quaid-e-Azam’s vision and a renewed commitment to strengthening an inclusive, democratic and progressive society. “Our faiths may be different, but our citizenship is equal, our rights are equal and our future is shared. The Sindh Government will continue to work towards a society where every citizen can live with dignity, security and equal opportunity,” he said.
