Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended Diwali greetings to the Hindu community and other religious minorities, calling the festival a “beautiful message of joy, peace and tolerance” and reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting minority rights.
Addressing a special ceremony at the Prime Minister’s House that included senior religious and diplomatic figures, members of minority communities and parliamentary representatives, the prime minister said the presence of Hindu, Christian and other minority leaders at the event reflected “the living reality of Pakistan’s pluralism.”
He reiterated that every citizen regardless of faith has the constitutional right to practise religious rituals without fear or intimidation.
Referring to recent government steps, Shehbaz highlighted progress on institutional and policy measures aimed at strengthening minority protections. He noted parliamentary approval and ongoing work to give the proposed National Commission for Minorities a firmer legal foundation and said the government had rolled out targeted support programmes from scholarships for minority students at primary through tertiary levels to representation of minorities in federal and provincial assemblies.
The prime minister praised minority communities for their contributions in fields ranging from public service to defence and development, saying their patriotism and public-spirited work were a source of national pride. He urged Muslims and non-Muslims to work “shoulder to shoulder” to resist hatred, intolerance and extremism and to preserve Pakistan as a land of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Shehbaz also pointed to steps taken under youth and social-welfare programmes to increase inclusion, and said the state would continue to ensure equal opportunities for minorities in education, health and public employment. He emphasised that religious festivals enjoyed official recognition and that holidays and workplace accommodations were provided to enable citizens to observe their faiths.
Concluding his remarks, the prime minister once again wished the Hindu community a happy Diwali and called on political and religious leaders to deepen interfaith dialogue.
Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Kheal Das Kohistani on the occasion paid tribute to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for organizing Diwali celebrations officially at the Prime Minister’s House, making a unique historic moment.
He also paid homage to Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the DG ISPR and the Minister for Information and Broadcasting who not only strongly advocated for peace and restrain during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos but rather physically demonstrated by not targeting any temple or civilian as Indian forces had targeted religious seminaries, women and children.
Post-May10 Pakistan, he said is the true Pakistan that has no room for terrorism, extremism and hatred rather is the land of peace, tolerance, interfaith harmony and unity.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Yousaf Khan said the Diwali celebrations participated by members of different faiths of the minorities have demonstrated Pakistan’s message of peace, unity, tolerance and interfaith harmony. He recited the verses of Holy Quran highlighting the divine commandment that all humans are created from a man and a woman, and bear equal rights in the society.
Earlier, Prof Chanchal Nawab of Physics delivered an enlightening lecture on the significance of Diwali as a festival of celebrating victory of good over evil, light over darkness and gives the message of humanity, peace and tolerance.
She said, “Diwali is not an event of the past. It is the philosophy of life that gives the message to mankind to strive in times of darkness, injustice and challenges. By embracing the strength of light, the light of peace, harmony, brotherhood and tolerance we can establish the true society envision by Quaid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.”
Prof Chanchal proudly welcomed the official celebration of Diwali as the symbol of interfaith harmony and true depiction of the fact that Pakistan gives equal rights to all the minorities of the country.