Lahore: Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora on Sunday said the provincial government remained committed to protecting minorities, upholding religious freedom and promoting interfaith harmony across the province.
In a statement issued on the third anniversary of the Jaranwala tragedy, he expressed solidarity with the affected families and the Christian community, saying the painful memories of August 16 remain etched in the nation’s collective conscience.
The minister said the Punjab government stood with the victims and would continue taking all possible measures to safeguard the lives, property and constitutional rights of minority communities.
He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, minority protection, religious freedom and interfaith harmony had been placed among the provincial government’s key priorities. He added that discrimination or injustice against any citizen on the basis of religion, faith or identity would not be tolerated.
Ramesh Singh Arora said protecting the life, dignity and property of every citizen was the state’s foremost responsibility. He said the Punjab government had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against violence, vigilantism and any attempt to undermine the rights of minorities, adding that no individual or group would be allowed to take the law into its own hands.
The minister said followers of all religions in Punjab were free to practice their faith and perform religious rituals in a secure environment. He added that the government was ensuring equal opportunities in education, employment, development and social welfare so that minority communities could contribute fully to the province’s progress.
He said the chief minister’s initiatives reflected the government’s commitment to treating minorities not merely as a segment of the population but as valued partners in Pakistan’s development, prosperity and national unity.
The minister reiterated the government’s resolve to build a Punjab where every citizen, regardless of religion or belief, enjoys equal rights, dignity and security. He added that Pakistan belongs equally to all its citizens and that minority communities are an integral part of the country’s progress, prosperity and stability.
