ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has said Pakistan’s minority communities are an essential and respected part of society, with their rights, freedoms, and safety fully protected under the Constitution.
Speaking at the National Minorities Day celebrations at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday, he praised the minorities’ valuable contributions to the nation’s strength and progress, noting their key role in national development. He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to stand firmly against all forms of discrimination, extremism, and violence, stressing that such acts have no place in society and will not be allowed to undermine national unity and integrity.
Highlighting measures to promote inclusion and equal opportunities, the president said these include reserved seats for non-Muslims in the parliament and provincial assemblies, a 5% quota in government jobs, and scholarships for minority students from primary to higher and professional education. He assured minority communities that worship places currently under illegal occupation would be reclaimed without delay and restored to their rightful custodians. He said he would ask the government to take immediate steps in this regard.
He noted that the National Policy for Interfaith Harmony aimed to promote religious tolerance, strengthen social cohesion, and unite all religious communities into a cohesive national fabric. Citing Islam’s emphasis on peace, justice, and human dignity, he referred to the Charter of Madinah, which granted equal rights to all communities, including non-Muslims. He said Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah envisioned a Pakistan where every citizen, regardless of religion, would enjoy equal rights a vision that continues to shape state policies.
Marking the day’s significance, he called for a collective resolve to build an inclusive and stronger Pakistan, where equality, mutual respect, and legal protection prevail, and every citizen can contribute meaningfully to the country’s shared destiny.
On the occasion, heads of minority communities thanked President Zardari for his 2009 decision, during his first tenure, to declare August 11 as the National Minorities Day, calling it a milestone in recognizing their contributions and rights. Later, Zardari, along with First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, ministers, and minority community leaders, cut a cake to mark the occasion.