LAHORE: A special ceremony in connection with Diwali festival was organised at Chief Minister’s Office here on Sunday. Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi cut a cake along with the representatives of Hindu and other minority communities to mark the Diwali festival. He felicitated the Hindu and other minority communities living in Pakistan on the occasion.
The chief minister was presented an ajrak as a gift on behalf of the Hindu and other minority communities.
دیوالی کے تہوار کی مناسبت سے وزیراعلیٰ آفس میں خصوصی تقریب: وزیراعلیٰ چودھری پرویز الٰہی نے د ہندو اوردیگر اقلیتی برادریوں کے ساتھ مل کر کیک کاٹا
وزیر اعلیٰ کی دیوالی کے تہوار کی مناسبت کے حوالے سے پاکستان میں مقیم ہندو برادری کو مبارکباد pic.twitter.com/Cm79kdqZMe— CM Punjab Updates (@CMPunjabPK) October 23, 2022
The CM said, “We fully participate in the festivities of the Hindu community on Diwali.” He said that the minority students were being awarded scholarships from Matric to PhD level in the government educational institutions, adding that 2 percent quota had been fixed for the minority communities in the higher educational institutions.
He said directions had been issued to ensure implementation of five per cent job quota for the minority communities, adding that 50 per cent scholarships under the educational scholarship scheme in the central Punjab, 35 per cent in the south Punjab and 15 per cent in the northern Punjab were being awarded to the minority students. He said that scholarships up to Rs50,000 were being awarded to the minority students, who get 50 per cent marks from Matric to higher education level.
The CM underscored that by participating in cultural events of each other helped promote tolerance. He said that safeguarding the rights of minorities is a responsibility of the state. The CM highlighted that all the minorities including the Hindu community have equal rights, adding that the Hindu and other minority communities are being provided equal opportunities to attain education. He outlined that giving better treatment and respect to the minorities is the essence of the religion of Islam.
Members Provincial Assembly Youdester Chohan, Nawaz Chandia, Abbas Ali Shah, Muhammad Shafique, Habkok Rafique Babu, Samuel Yaqoob, Mahindar Pal Singh, Saira Raza, Fauzia Abbas, Shahida Malika, Nohais Khokhar, Aftab Gul, Muhammad Yasin, Chairman CM Complaint Cell Zubair Ahmad Khan, Secretary Minority Affairs and Human Rights and concerned officials were also present.
