Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday reaffirmed her government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights, welfare, and dignity of minority communities, describing them as “the beauty and crown of Pakistani society.”
In her message on National Minorities Day, the CM said that Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan belongs to all citizens, who are free to practice their faith without fear. She paid tribute to minority communities for their active role in the country’s development and prosperity.
Maryam Nawaz highlighted several initiatives taken by the Punjab government, including the introduction of the Minority Card for the first time in history. Currently, 50,000 minority individuals receive quarterly payments of Rs. 10,500 through the card, with plans to increase the number to 75,000. She noted the passage of the first-ever Sikh Marriage Act 2024, giving legal recognition to the “Anand Karaj” ceremony, and the approval of the long-pending Hindu Marriage Act 2017 in 2025.
The CM said Rs. 8 billion has been allocated this fiscal year for developmental and non-developmental projects for minority communities. Grants for religious festivals have been increased from Rs. 60 million to Rs. 366 million, while restoration work is underway on 40 historic gurdwaras, 25 churches, and five temples, including the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore, Shri Krishna Mandir in Rawalpindi, and the Church of Pakistan.
She announced that Rs. 60 million in scholarships has been released for minority students, along with vocational training courses in Youhanabad benefiting 1,000 students in the first phase and 10,000 in the second.
For the first time, she said, festivals such as Baisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Christmas, and Easter have been celebrated officially at the government level in Punjab. The minority quota system is also being fully implemented to ensure fair representation in all sectors.
“We are moving towards a society where love, tolerance, and brotherhood will be our identity,” the CM said. “Minorities are a beautiful part of Pakistan, and we will never let that beauty fade.”