ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has assured the minorities that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government will fulfill the promise made to the non-Muslim citizens by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August 11, 1947. “We will make Pakistan a tolerable society where basic rights of every citizen are protected and where all Pakistanis, either they are Muslims or non-Muslims, work collectively for progress and prosperity of the country,” the PM said in his message on the occasion of ‘Minorities Day’ being observed on August 11. He said that it was on this day in 1947, Quaid-e-Azam in his historic address to the Constituent Assembly outlined the contours of a modern and tolerant Pakistan in which people of all faiths would have equal rights and opportunities. He said the vision of a tolerant and modern Pakistan was also embodied in the consensus Constitution of 1973. Besides this, the PM said it was also a historic truth that the minorities in Pakistan had worked shoulder to shoulder with their majority in all walks of lives. “Their contributions in social sector in general and health sector in particular are admirable,” he said. The PM said those living in majority in Pakistan were bound to fulfill the promise made by the Quaid-e-Azam with the minority communities on August 11, 1947. He said rights of all citizens in Pakistan were equal and it would be ensured as a citizen and as a state to accord equal treatment to all the citizens irrespective of their religion, caste and creed. In this connection, the PM said that the government was aware of its responsibility to protect the rights of minorities at all costs. He said the government had taken a number of steps for the welfare of minorities by allocating five percent quota in jobs for them at federal level, besides allocating seats in the Senate, National Assembly and provincial assemblies according to their population ratio. The PM said religious festivals of the minority communities were also being celebrated at the government level. The National Minority Day is being celebrated in Pakistan on Saturday to highlight the contribution, services and sacrifices made by the minority communities in the creation of Pakistan and in nation building. Several events, seminars and social gatherings were arranged across the country by members of various religious minorities as well as the Ministry of National Harmony. Minister In-charge for National Harmony Dr Paul Bhatti issued a message saying: “The day we celebrate every year on August 11, recalls the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah with reference to his speech and the contribution of non-Muslim communities to Pakistan.” “The celebration of Minority Day provides us with an opportunity to re-assure that despite belonging to different faiths we are one nation that continues to march for a united and prosperous Pakistan,” he said, adding that the commendable service of religious minorities, along with Muslims, was a glorious chapter in the history of the independence movement of Pakistan. Published in Daily Times, August 12th 2017.