Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said on Sunday that his country has been making efforts to fully ensure political, social and economic empowerment of minorities residing in the South Asian country.
“Pakistan is committed to protecting minorities’ rights and religious freedoms. Minorities enjoy all rights which have been guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan,” the president said in his message on the National Day of Minorities observed on Sunday.
Highlighting the extraordinary role of minorities in nation-building, Zardari said that the government has taken a number of steps to safeguard their rights and provide them equal opportunities to excel in life.
“In this regard, the country has allocated a 5-percent quota for minorities in government jobs and separate seats in both houses of the parliament to encourage them to play an effective role in the political and national development of the country,” he said.
Additionally, steps are being taken to provide financial assistance to poor and deserving individuals as well as scholarships to students from minority communities for their education, he added.
Zardari said that minorities of Pakistan have accomplished remarkable achievements in every field and will continue to play their positive roles in the country’s development.
The president also urged all segments of society to educate the people about their rights and work to promote interfaith harmony, the spirit of love, tolerance, brotherhood and unity to make Pakistan a strong country.
