Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that the government was committed to provision of equal opportunities to all communities living in Pakistan so that they could excel in different fields of life by protecting their basic human rights. Addressing a ceremony held here in connection with the observance of International Human Rights Day, the prime minister said that the day highlighted the government’s commitment towards upholding the great cause of human rights and protecting them, besides empowering those communities of the country that needed protection under the challenging circumstances. He said that all the communities living in Pakistan enjoyed equal rights. “It is our priority and the government is committed to providing opportunities to all on equal basis,” he added. About 1400 years back, Islam and the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), had enunciated the contours of basic human rights and equality of humans, he said, adding the Founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his historic speech on 11 August, had emphasized upon the equal rights of all citizens regardless of the creed, cast and religion. The prime minister stressed that today, they committed themselves to do more in this regard to be able to stand with pride in front of nation, posterity and the entire humanity. “It is a long journey to traverse, he said, adding that with collective efforts, they should move ahead; thrash out issues and carve out their way for their future generation and to meet the expectations of the people of the country. The prime minister further recollected that as chief minister Punjab, though it was not his constitutional responsibility, he also supported residents of other provinces with various educational and financial initiatives. He mentioned the steps taken during his tenures as chief minister which included Punjab Endowment Fund, award of scholarships and laptops on merit, in which all the provinces, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were included. He also referred to establishment of center against women violence in Multan, Zaiwer-e-Taleem programme with scholarship in Southern Punjab, and initiatives to end brick kilns child labour. About 90,000 children were forced to brick kiln labour who were later enrolled in schools, he added. Recently, the prime minister said, the federal government was sending 1,000 graduates from all parts of the country, including Gilgit Baltistan, to China to seek highest technical knowledge and education. He also assured the law minister to take up the issue of stranded Pakistanis with his counterpart in Malaysia. The prime minister commended the efforts of law minister and other stakeholders for the promotion and protection of human rights. Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar, in his remarks, said that on 10 December, 1948, the world adopted the human rights declaration ensuring that there would be no discrimination among humans. He said almost all the provisions of the universal declaration were based upon the teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and were also incorporated in the Constitution of Pakistan. The minister reiterated commitment to remove the disparity among the society by upholding the basic human rights and stressed that they all had to discharge this onus as a mission. He highlighted that the Ministry of Human Rights, in collaboration with all the provincial governments and Gilgit Baltistan, had been working on the set targets regarding women’s rights. Azam Nazeer Tarar mentioned achievements of his ministry in the realms of legislation over human rights which included, Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Alert, Legal Aid and Justice Authority, Awaz app, 24/7 help services over legal issues, and functioning of different commissions including the human rights, and the status of women etc. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that as custodians of some of the most awe-inspiring mountains in the world, they reaffirmed the resolve to protect their natural environment, preserve their beauty for the future generations. “Today, on International Mountain Day, we join the global community, in recognition of the significance of mountains to our home planet and to the millions of people whose lives are intrinsically intertwined with these majestic landscapes,” the prime minister said in a message on the observance of the International Mountain Day, on December 11. This year’s theme “Mountain solutions for a sustainable future – innovation, adaptation, youth and beyond,” he said, was a reminder of the importance of collaborative efforts, innovation, respect for indigenous wisdom and the active involvement of youth in finding sustainable solutions for mountain conservation. The prime minister said Pakistan had been dedicated to this cause for decades, from the National Mountain Conservation Strategy to Promotion of Eco-Tourism and stringent focus on Sustainable Development Goals. “Through innovative climate solutions such as Early Warning Systems, bio-engineering techniques to prevent land degradation, and durable flood protection infrastructure, we are building safe, secure, and climate-resilient communities in the rich mountainous terrains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan such that our communities remain safe, secure and thriving,” PM Office Media Wing, in a press release, quoted the prime minister as saying. The prime minister observed that their beloved country had been blessed with not one, but dozens of peaks, some frozen in time, others bursting with the fruits of eternal spring. “This land is home to eight of the sixteen highest mountain peaks in the world, including the iconic K-2; the world’s second highest, and Nanga Parbat; the ninth highest peak, along with over 7,000 glaciers, making it the largest repository of ice outside the polar regions,” he added. The prime minister said that Mountains, often called the “water towers” of the world, were the source of essential resources such as freshwater, and clean air yet they faced mounting challenges from climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable practices.