Minister HR&MA Ijaz Alam Augustine on Wednesday expressed hope that the interfaith policy would go a long way in making Punjab a home for all where they will enjoy equal rights and have a sense of security.
He was addressing a comprehensive consultative session on how to formulate interfaith harmony policy of Punjab, make it safe from hate and violence and give space to followers of different religions living here was held at a private hotel.
He said the project fell very much in line with the spirit of the initiatives that the Punjab government had already taken to promote interfaith harmony in the province. The minister said the government of PTI will ensure social justice and fair distribution of socio-economic resources in order to promote tolerance and co-existence in the society and eliminate the sense of insecurity and injustice among the religious minorities.
The workshop was organised by the Ministry of HR&MA in collaboration with Youth Development Foundation (YDF), an organisation working for peace and youth empowerment to seek and compile suggestions for incorporation into the proposed interfaith policy for Punjab province. Provincial Minister for HR&MA Ijaz Alam Augustine chaired the session.
YDF Executive director Shahid Rehmat in his welcome address shared that before this workshop; project being launched after mutual consultation by all stakeholders and aim of project was about the formulation of an interfaith harmony policy that provided a framework and guidelines on how to promote diversity and a sense of security and ownership for all in the province.
Policy expert Mubashar Bukhari said that through interfaith policy can create an environment where people from different religious, ethnic, sectoral and linguistic backgrounds can co-exist without fear and contribute to the progress of the country.
MPA Mahindra Pal Singh said it was a great development that religious leaders from different faiths had joined their heads and decided to find solutions to the conflicts and violence caused due to intolerance and discrimination on religious grounds. MPA Sadia Sohail said that the priority of the Punjab government was to promote peace, religious harmony and tolerance, while the Government of PTI is willing to set up a peaceful environment across Pakistan.
Other parliamentarians also assured to all participants to perform their proactive role in the promotion and approval of the interfaith harmony policy in the assembly. The other speakers and participants of the workshop also expressed their views and acknowledged the efforts of PTI’s Government for the freedom of religion in the country.
At the end of the session, representatives of YDF presented a devised draft on harmonious, tolerant and safe Punjab to the minister for further process. The workshop was attended by representatives from different walks of life including government officials, parliamentarians, lawyers, media personnel, academics, youth and rights activists.
