PR No. 66
Islamabad: October 08, 2024

A meeting of the committee established to review the interfaith harmony policy was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister's advisor to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination and Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah. The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain. Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Zulfiqar Haider informed the committee that a strategy has been developed for the interfaith harmony policy and promoting religious tolerance. The policy includes suggestions from members of the federal cabinet, and its implementation will cover Islamabad and all four provinces. The governments of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have supported the interfaith harmony policy. Committee convener Rana Sanaullah stated that the approval of the interfaith harmony policy from Sindh and Punjab is also necessary, and all four provinces should share their suggestions regarding the policy. It is crucial to finalize the interfaith harmony policy as soon as possible. Rana Sanaullah mentioned that violent incidents against minorities tarnish the country's image on a global level and emphasized the need to address the causes of such incidents and to prevent them. Suggestions from the provinces will be included in the interfaith harmony policy, which will be laid before Parliament and the federal cabinet for approval after incorporating the provincial suggestions. Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted during the meeting that the role of the National Commission for Minorities will be very important for interfaith harmony. The chairman of the commission should be someone who has worked on human rights and minority rights. Only by empowering and strengthening the National Commission for Minorities can the protection of minorities be ensured. A subcommittee has been formed for further consultation regarding the National Commission for Minorities, which will include additional chief secretaries from all four provinces, representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Human Rights, and Ministry of Law and Justice. Committee convener Rana Sanaullah directed the subcommittee to finalize their recommendations within a week. The meeting was attended by representatives from Nacta and Ministry of Human Rights.

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