LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that one billion rupees were allocated for minorities’ development fund while scholarships were also being given to non-Muslim students to continue studies from matriculation to PhD.
He stated this while talking to a delegation of the National Commission for Minorities Affairs led by its chairman Chela Ram Kwelani which called on him at his office on Monday and discussed steps for the welfare of the minorities in the province.
Punjab Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Minister Ejaz Alam, chief secretary, secretary human rights and minorities’ affairs department and others were present while the delegation comprised of representatives of religious minorities including Chairman Royat-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad.
Usman Buzdar said, 2.5 billion rupees were being spent on different welfare-oriented projects of minority communities in the financial year 2021-22. Alongside, the two per cent quota for the non-Muslims students has opened the doors of higher education to them, he added.
The chief minister stressed that implementation of a 5 per cent job quota for minorities would be ensured and pointed out that focal persons have been nominated after the institution of minority cells in 40 government departments.
Similarly, focal persons have also been nominated after the
establishment of minority cells in 9 divisions, 36 districts and 144 tehsils, he added and assured that this paraphernalia would timely resolve issues pertaining to the minority communities at the grassroots.
The constitution of Pakistan ensures full protection to the rights of the minority communities and they enjoy equal rights in the country. Meanwhile, the interfaith policy has also been devised and more steps would also be taken to ensure the welfare of the religious minorities in future, the CM concluded.
Chela Ram Kwelani appreciated the steps taken for the protection of rights of religious minorities adding that steps aimed at providing equal opportunities to the minorities are commendable. A good job was being done to protect the minorities’ rights in Punjab, he concluded.
