LAHORE: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noor ul Haq Qadri said on Friday that minorities have full religious freedom in Pakistan while all their rights are being protected by the government. He said decision of opening up of Kartarpur Corridor by the Prime Minister Imran Khan was appreciated and sitting government is providing all the facilities to religious minorities in line with the Islamic teachings and directions of the founder of Pakistan.

Pir Noor ul Haq Qadri was speaking at the launching ceremony of a book and a website regarding historical worship places of Sikh religion, released by the Evacuee Trust Board here on Friday. The event was attended by the Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Ijaz Alam Augustine, MPA Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Secretary Board Sana Ullah Khan and a number of other government officials.

The minister said that the evacuee trust board increased its income and took numerous steps for the welfare of Hindu, Sikh and other minorities in a very short span of time. He appreciated these efforts. He also condemned the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway rape incident and asked for exemplary punishment to those involved in it.

Pir Noor ul Haq Qadri said that yatrees coming from neighbouring country would be provided all-out facilities while India was behaving brutally with Muslims and other minorities. He said those spreading religious hatred in the country are not sincere to the state.

Speaking on this occasion, Evacuee Trust Board Chairman Dr Aamir Ahmad said that this website would guide and educate the people around the world while it would also help increasing the religious tourism in Pakistan. He said opening of Kartarpur Corridor increased the respect and credibility of Pakistan in the comity of nations while it improved the confidence of minorities.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020