Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs Ejaz Alam Augustine has said that Punjab Province undoubtedly honored as the first province, which has launched Human Rights Policy 2018 during the PTI regime.
He said that committees of Human Rights Task Force had rendered excellent services during Covid-19 but we all have to work harder to ensure the protection of human rights throughout the province.
These views were expressed by the provincial minister while presiding over a departmental meeting at the Human Rights Camp Office on Friday while Secretary Human Rights Nadeemur Rehman, Director M Yousaf and other relevant officers were present in the meeting. During the briefing to the Provincial Minister, Secretary Nadeemur Rehman said that in the last two years, 55,000 applications had been received at the Citizen Portal of Prime Minister of Pakistan, sent to responsible officers and departments.
He said that under the Christian Marriage Act 1872, the process of prevention of illegal marriages and registration in NADRA is being made more transparent while drafting laws to amend it.
He further said that Punjab Sikh Anand Karj marriage rules have been prepared and consultation process is also underway on them. However, under these rules, the Sikh community can easily register their marriages with NADRA.
Director Muhammad Yousuf informed the meeting that under the human rights policy, the rights of child, women, religious minorities, persons with disabilities, senior citizens and rights of eunuchs etc. are being ensured.
Special consultation process on the proposed legislation is underway. The Human Rights Department had conducted training sessions to various institutions across the province, in which 101,758 officials had been trained since August 2018. The provincial minister urged Secretary Nadeem-ur-Rehman to make special arrangements to further improve the performance of the department as day and night efforts would have to be made to ensure protection of human rights as it was a sensitive issue, faced every day.
He also stressed to all the officers that the service of humanity is undoubtedly an act for which Allah Almighty chooses special persons so all of you should strive for this good cause at every moment and wherever feel any difficulty, bring it to my notice immediately to remove obstacle in the provision of people’s rights.
