No. 61 Message from Imran Khan Prime Minister, Islamic Republic of Pakistan (On the occasion of Human Rights Day-2018) Islamabad, December 9, 2018

Pakistan is proud to join hands with the global community in celebrating Human Rights Day. This day acknowledges the world’s commitment to the promotion and protection of Human Rights. It celebrates dignity, freedom, equality and justice for all. In line with the vision of our founding father Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan is a democratic, pluralistic and progressive state. Pakistanis aspire for a society based on equality, the rule of law, respect for diversity, and justice. In the Pakistan of today, we are committed to a strong democracy, rule of law, an independent judiciary, a free media and a vibrant civil society. The present Government of Pakistan is cognisant of its duties in the realm of human rights. Legislation and policy initiatives, presenting and defending international treaty reports, setting up of human rights structures from federal to grass root level, national action plans and financial inclusion strategies, institutional reforms, gender empowerment, child protection and the provision of social nets are just a few of our initiatives in the field of human rights. The Government of Pakistan is also cognisant of its duties to all its citizens and to the international community. Like all nations of the world, we face challenges in our journey ahead but we are meeting these challenges with a determined commitment. PTI’s vision focuses on ensuring steady mainstreaming of human rights in our overall policies and in our national discourse. We are working to address discrimination faced by women and vulnerable groups in our society by providing them an enabling socio-economic environment for growth and protection of their rights guaranteed under the Constitution. Independent Commissions, empowered as courts, work to redress human rights violations, Ombudsman offices address harassment and the State Bank aims to bring increased women into the banking system by 2020. A treaty implementation cell ensures the affective implementation of treaties signed and provincial governments & task forces reflect this commitment in concrete action. The Ministry of Human Rights needs to be commended in its work. Over the past three months, this Ministry has taken strong initiatives for the promotion and protection of human rights in Pakistan. These include nine new legislations, policies on Women empowerment; Gender based violence and Child Abuse. The Ministry has already concluded a study on women’s right to inheritance and is working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure that no woman is deprived of her right to own and inherit property. Governance is not only about running the State machinery to keep one’s borders safe and the law and order situation under control. Nations also have the mandate to eliminate inequalities and inequities entrenched in society. Together we must work against the exploitation and marginalization of vulnerable groups which deprives them of basic rights, to a life of dignity and equality. The Government of the PTI is committed to making this vision a concrete reality. ***** NOT TO PUBLISHED/ TELECASTED/BROADCASTED BY PRINT/ELECTRONIC MEDIA BEFORE “INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY” I.E. DECEMBER 10, 2018

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