LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Ijaz Alam Augustine Thursday said religious minorities and the weaker sections of society must use their precious vote to strengthen the democratic system by participating in the electoral process.
He was addressing the concluding session of two-day local bodies training workshop, held at new minister block’s committee room, organised by the department of HR&MA in collaboration with the Youth Development Foundation (YDF).
Representative of Sanjha Pakistan Mehnaz Javed, Chief Executive Officer YDF Shahid Rehmat, expert local bodies system Salman Abid, working group of women from various sectors and youth of religious minorities were present.
The provincial minister said that an informed and empowered citizen was an important part of a healthy and sustainable democracy, while it was a basic right of every citizen to be aware of the political and electoral process.
He appreciated the efforts of the YDF in organising the two-day training workshop and said that such training sessions for women, youth and religious minorities were a necessary step and the Youth Development Foundation was rendering valuable services in this regard.
Salman Abid told the participants that representation of women, youth and religious minorities in the political process and government structure was a guarantee of a stable democracy while your vote was very effective and valuable for betterment of democracy.
YDF CEO Shahid Rehmat emphasised that youth, women should participate in the political process to safeguard their rights and assured them that his organisation was always ready to help them.