Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar
LAHORE: Opening his office’s doors to minorities for the first time in the history of the province, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has offered the Hindu community of the province to celebrate next Dewali at the Governor’s House.
Sources at the Governor’s House informed Daily Times that the governor had also given nod to celebrate the Besakhi festival within the premises of the Governor’s House at the official level. The festival is still being celebrated in the Indian Punjab by the Sikh community.
According to details, a special delegation of the Hindu community held a meeting with Governor Chaudhry Sarwar at the Governor’s House on Wednesday.
Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Muhammad Aminul Hasnat was also present at the meeting and appreciated the role of minorities in the development of the country.
Talking to the delegation, the governor said that Pakistan is an ideal place for the minorities where they are enjoying full liberty and freedom in exercising their religious practices.
He said that the Pakistani government was also fully committed to safeguarding the lives and property of the minorities and for this purpose various laws had also been formulated.
The governor said that the minorities played a pivotal role in making Pakistan and now they were doing their best in making the country a prosperous state in the world.
He said that the constitution of Pakistan also provided an equal status to the minorities as per the teachings of Islam and the participation of the minorities in all fields was a proven fact of it.
On this occasion, the governor assured the delegates that the doors of the Governor’s House were open for everyone, especially the minorities. He congratulated the Hindu community on their religious event of Dewali and offered them to celebrate it next time at the Governor’s House. He said that such events were a symbol of happiness and unity and “we should participate in their events”.
Earlier, the delegates informed the governor about the problems they faced in the province, especially about their economic, healthcare and education-related matters. They also informed the governor that Hindus were the biggest minority in the country and the second largest minority population in Punjab after Christians.