KARACHI, August 10, 2026: Minority rights are a fundamental part of equal citizenship, Sindh Government spokesperson Sukhdev Hemnani said Monday, reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment to protecting the rights, dignity and equal status of religious minorities.
Hemnani made the remarks ahead of National Minorities Day, observed on August 11. He said Sindh’s policies reflect a commitment to equality through legislation, political representation, employment opportunities, institutional support and welfare measures.
He described the declaration of August 11 as National Minorities Day by President Asif Ali Zardari in 2009 as an important step toward promoting Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of equal citizenship.
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According to Hemnani, the PPP-led government under President Zardari introduced several measures for minority communities. These included a dedicated Ministry for Minority Affairs, a 5% employment quota and increased reserved seats in Parliament.
He said these initiatives aimed to bring minority citizens into the mainstream of Pakistan’s political, economic and social development.
Sindh legislation and representation
Hemnani said the Sindh government has continued this approach under the leadership of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The province has introduced legislation and programmes aimed at protecting and empowering minority communities.
He highlighted the Sindh Protection of Communal Properties of Minorities Act, 2013, and the Sindh Hindu Marriage Act, 2016, as key legislative measures.
The spokesperson also said Sindh has provided minority communities with representation in important government positions, including the provincial Cabinet.
Meanwhile, the provincial government provides enhanced security at minority places of worship during religious occasions. It has also established interfaith harmony bodies across Sindh to encourage dialogue, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Welfare and development programmes
Hemnani said the Minority Affairs Department provides scholarships to minority students, along with financial and medical assistance for deserving families and marriage assistance.
The government has also included minority communities in major development programmes. These include the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees, Peoples Poverty Reduction Programme and provincial solar energy initiatives.
He said the inclusion of minorities in such programmes ensures they can benefit equally from public development and welfare schemes.
Call for an inclusive Pakistan
Hemnani said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari continues to advocate equality, religious freedom, democratic rights and protection for minority communities.
He added that National Minorities Day should reinforce Jinnah’s vision of an inclusive and democratic Pakistan.
“Our faiths may be different, but our citizenship is equal, our rights are equal and our future is shared,” Hemnani said.
He added that the Sindh Government would continue working toward a society where every citizen could live with dignity, security and equal opportunity.
