Lahore: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) arranged a grand ceremony to mark National Minorities Day here at LCCI on Tuesday. LCCI Acting President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh chaired the ceremony that was also attended by former LCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar, Executive Committee Member Rana Nisar, Convener Minorities Committee Sardar Bhishan Singh, Secretary General Minhaj-ul-Quran Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Shahzad Ahmed Khan, Sohail Ahmed Khan, Haji Ishaq, Dr. Mumpal Singh, Dr. Daran Jeet Singh, Dr. Manpal Singh, Pastor Asif Khokhar, Pandit Kashi Ram, Pandit Bhagat Lal, Allama Zubair Ahmed Zaheer, Maulana Asim Makhdoom, Allama Qasim Ali, Syed Ghulam Abbas Shirazi and other representatives of different religions and communities.
Addressing the ceremony, LCCI Acting President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh said that National Minorities Day reminds us of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of Pakistan, where every citizen should enjoy equal rights regardless of religion, faith or caste.
He said Pakistan should become a role model for the world in religious harmony, tolerance and interfaith respect. The government should take practical steps to ensure that every citizen feels an equal part of Pakistan.
Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh said the sacrifices and services of minority communities in the history of Pakistan could never be forgotten. He highlighted the role played by minority representatives in the struggle for Pakistan and said their contributions deserved respect and recognition from the entire nation.
He said National Minorities Day should not be limited to one day. The rights, dignity and security of minority communities should be protected throughout the year. Every citizen of Pakistan should be treated equally and given full respect.
Former LCCI president and PIAF Patron-in-Chief Mian Anjum Nisar said that August 11 reminds the nation of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of equal rights, religious freedom and respect for every citizen. He appreciated the Lahore Chamber for bringing people belonging to different religions onto one platform and promoting a message of unity, respect and brotherhood.
He said a strong and developed Pakistan was possible only when every citizen feels an equal partner in the country’s progress and gets equal opportunities to move forward. Mian Anjum Nisar said people should respect each other’s rights regardless of religion, sect or other differences and work together for Pakistan’s economic and social development. He said the business community could play an important role in promoting harmony because trade and business relations bring people closer and help build mutual trust.
Secretary General Minhaj-ul-Quran Khurram Nawaz Gandapur congratulated Sardar Bhishan Singh and the Lahore Chamber for bringing people from different religions and schools of thought together on one platform. He said he had been working for interfaith harmony and the rights of minority communities for many decades and would continue these efforts in the future.
Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said Islam teaches peace, love, tolerance and respect. He said different religions were like a beautiful bouquet made up of flowers of different colours. He stressed that hatred should be directed against wrongdoing, not against people, and that respecting all religions and their followers is part of Islamic teachings.
Sardar Bhishan Singh said Pakistan belongs to everyone and members of different minority communities, including the Sikh community, had made sacrifices for the region and Pakistan before and after independence. He said all Pakistanis should work together for the country’s progress, prosperity and stability and should take pride in being Pakistani while respecting their religious identities.
He said Pakistan was a sacred land for the Sikh community because Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born here, while important Sikh religious sites were located in Pakistan, including Kartarpur and several historic sites in Lahore. He also stressed the need for all communities to celebrate Pakistan’s national days together and promote national unity.
