For the First Time in History, a Department is Set to Formulate its Five-Year Strategic Plan
Ramesh Singh Aro Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs, Ramesh Singh Arora, held an important meeting with the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Henny de Vries while Asma Hamid Consul General Lahore, Hina Idrees, Senior Policy Officer embassy and Secretary HR&MA Ali Bahadur Qazi were also present in the meeting.
During the meeting, the importance of mutual cooperation and collaboration in the fields of human rights and the protection of religious minorities in Punjab was emphasized. Minister Ramesh Singh Arora highlighted the Punjab Government’s efforts to ensure the protection and equal rights of religious minorities. He mentioned that for the first time in history, the Department of Human Rights and Minority Affairs will be the first institution in any province to formulate its five-year strategic plan.
Additionally, he shared that the Chief Minister of Punjab had provided special grants at the Diwali celebrations, increased the budget for minorities by 200%, and announced the issuance of minority cards for 50,000 families in the near future. For the first time, scholarships are being provided to minority children from matriculation to PhD levels, and the two percent quota for higher education is being implemented.
Ramesh Singh Arora also emphasized the need for international support in strengthening the global human rights framework and stated that the Punjab Government is committed to creating a society where people of all religions can freely practice their beliefs without facing any form of discrimination. He further discussed the department’s capacity-building efforts and requested support from the Netherlands for training staff through various technical courses.
Ambassador Netherlands praised the Punjab Government’s initiatives in promoting religious tolerance and harmony and reiterated the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting human rights globally. She assured full cooperation in capacity-building efforts and emphasized the importance of policy to address the challenges faced by religious minorities. The Ambassador expressed the desire to explore further avenues for cooperation between the Punjab Government and the Netherlands in the areas of human rights, interfaith dialogue, and the protection of religious minorities.
