FEDERAL MINISTER M. ASIF ALONG WITH PROVINCIAL MINISTER RAMESH SINGH ARORA DISTRIBUTES CM PUNJAB MINORITY CARDS IN SIALKOT

 

 

 

Lahore : Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, along with Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora, distributed Minority Cards under the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s scheme, to 1,547 minority households in the Sialkot district.

 

Addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister Khawaja Asif lauded the issuance of the Minority Cards and praised Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for her efforts, stating that for a healthy society, it is essential that religious and ethnic minorities are provided equal rights without discrimination. He emphasized that Pakistan’s entire population, regardless of differences, must be united and loyal to the nation, and religious affiliation should not affect loyalty to the country.

 

Khawaja Asif further stated that in a healthy society, minorities enjoy the same, if not greater, rights and benefits as the majority. He added that Sialkot is fortunate in this regard, as it is home to a significant number of Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs, who have been living here since the creation of Pakistan and enjoy full freedom in their business and religious practices.

 

Khawaja Asif also mentioned that after 1947, only ten Sikhs were left in Sialkot, but thanks to the efforts of the Chief Minister of Punjab, their numbers have now surpassed 100. He added that Sialkot has become an international destination for the Sikh community, where they can witness how religious and ethnic minorities live in harmony.

 

 

 

In his address, Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora remarked that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, in her first speech as the Chief Minister, had declared that minorities are the crown on her head and that she wanted them to live without any fear. He also cited the words of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, stating that there is no distinction between majority and minority in his view.

 

Ramesh Singh Arora said that on January 22, 2025, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched the Minority Card initiative. Through the portal, 93,000 non-Muslim households in Punjab registered themselves, and of these, 50,000 households with a poverty score of less than 45 were deemed eligible for the Minority Card. He announced that next year, 75,000 households would benefit from the Minority Card. He highlighted that Pakistan is the only country in the world where Sikh marriages are registered under the Sikh Marriage Act, while in India, where over 25 million Sikhs reside, they are forced to register their marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act.

 

Ramesh Singh Arora commended Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for allocating record funds of Rs. 4 billion for the construction, renovation, and maintenance of minority worship places, as well as the development of minority graveyards and colonies. He revealed that a project has been prepared for the restoration of 46 closed Gurdwaras, 25 Churches, and Temples in Punjab, at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.4 billion. He added that the Minority Affairs Department of Punjab is a leader in performance, thanks to the historic steps taken by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He also mentioned that the Minority Affairs Department has developed a five-year strategic plan for the restoration and protection of minorities.