Secretary Human Rights and Minority Affairs Department, Punjab Rizwana Naveed said that religious minorities in Pakistan have full rights as equal citizens. She said that the Department of HR&MA was fully committed to provide the equal rights, in this regard department had published a book: White colour in Flag: to show efforts of religious minorities in the development and prosperity of Pakistan.
She expressed these views while addressing an event organized on the occasion of the National Day of Religious Minorities. The event was organized by the Provincial Department of Human Rights and Minority Affairs in collaboration with the Faces Pakistan in a local hotel on Thursday. Rizwana Naveed said that August 11 having great importance in the history of Pakistan, In his historic speech, while defining the status and place of religious minorities in Pakistan, he made it clear that they are completely free to go to their mosques or any other place of worship in the state of Pakistan. Archbishop Sebastian Show expressed his views and said that there is no doubt that this country was built by all religions united under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He emphasized that all religious leaders have to play their role to promote mutual love and interfaith and we should encourage youth to include in the national stream. The President of Faces Pakistan, Javed William, presented the book: OUR DIVERSE LAND, published on the 75th jubilee of Pakistan, to Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw and other guests. A play was also presented by the Youth Council for peace and Harmony, which was well appreciated by the audience. Chairman of National Council for Peace and Interfaith Harmony Pakistan Allama Shakeelur Rahman thanked all the participants while presenting the closing remarks. Rev Dr. Majeed Abel, Deputy Director of Human Rights Muhammad Yusuf, Dr. Klyan Singh Klyan, Dr. Professor Masood Mujahid, Dr Mohammad Javad, Advocate Javed Gul and relevant officers of Human Rights Department attended the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, honorary shields were presented to various social personalities for taking significant steps for the protection of religious minorities and a special prayer was also offered for the development and prosperity of the country of Pakistan.
