Pakistan celebrates National Minorities Day on 11 August. This year, the Punjab Assembly held its first-ever Special Session to mark the occasion, sending a strong message of solidarity to minority communities. The assembly praised their contributions in various sectors, including the armed forces, medicine, politics, philanthropy, law, social justice, sports, business, and education.
According to the 2023 census, 2,870,408 people belonging to religious minorities reside in Punjab. Before the 2024 general election, the indefatigable Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) worker and lawmaker Raheela Khadim Hussain reorganised the party’s minority wing in the short span of six months and registered more than 32,000 members in Punjab alone. She toured the country listening to the minorities’ concerns and made solid recommendations for the party’s election manifesto.
In its 131 years, Maryam Nawaz made history as the first Punjab chief minister to visit the Mariamabad Church, where she participated in Easter festivities.
Since assuming office in February 2024, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has prioritised the welfare of minorities in Punjab. In March she announced a Holi aid package for the Hindu community. Under this initiative, 700 Hindu families across Punjab received Rs10,000 to celebrate this occasion. In its 131 years, Maryam Nawaz made history as the first Punjab chief minister to visit the Mariamabad Church, where she participated in Easter festivities. She attended the Easter service and distributed an Easter grant to deserving families during her visit. In April, she participated in the Baisakhi Festival held at the resting place of Sikh founder Guru Nanak in Kartarpur and engaged with the Sikh diaspora from around the world.
Beyond symbolic gestures, substantial progress has been made in advancing the rights of minorities in Punjab. Under the leadership of Minority Affairs Minister Ramesh Singh Arora, the government has introduced a series of initiatives and reforms aimed at supporting and uplifting minority communities.
Strategic initiatives and policy planning
One of the standout achievements is the introduction of a five-year strategic plan by the Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department. The department is conducting extensive surveys and focus group discussions in rural areas to gather insights from various minority communities. The plan is expected to streamline departmental efforts and establish a strong government-public relationship.
Legislative and administrative reforms
Within a short span of five months, the government has made swift progress on projects initiated by the PML-N government (2013-2018) but left in limbo by the subsequent PTI government. One of them is related to Sikh marriages. The Punjab Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage Act 2018, which was passed unanimously in the Punjab Assembly, could not be implemented for five years because the PTI government failed to notify its rule. The Punjab government approved Punjab Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage (Registrar) Rules 2024 and Punjab Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage (Arbitration Council) Rules 2024 in June and is now working on Hindu and Christian marriage rules, to ensure legal recognition and protection of minority marriages.
Financial empowerment and education support
A central focus of the PML-N government has been the financial and educational empowerment of minority communities. The government has significantly increased the minority scholarship fund from Rs55 million to Rs110 million, while Rs30 million was successfully disbursed among 1,100 students. Moreover, the overall grant allocations for minorities saw a substantial boost, growing from Rs60 million to Rs366 million — a 610 per cent increase. This financial support has been paired with efforts to improve the living conditions of minorities, with Rs350 million allocated for the development of modern localities.
The government has increased funds for the renovation and development of religious places from Rs200 million to Rs300 million, in an effort to promote religious tourism.
In addition, the minorities already enjoy a 5 per cent job quota and a 2 per cent admission quota in public sector educational institutions of higher education in Punjab.
Infrastructure and tourism development
The government has increased funds for the renovation and development of religious places from Rs200 million to Rs300 million, in an effort to promote religious tourism. An additional Rs200 million has been earmarked to create a community centre for minorities. These initiatives, paired with the Kartarpur Corridor, will integrate minority rights with tourism and soft diplomacy, enhancing Punjab’s image globally.
These achievements are in line with the party’s vision outlined in PML-N’s election manifesto. By investing in legislative reforms, financial empowerment, and community engagement, the government has laid a robust foundation for inclusivity, development, and harmony.
