Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif felicitated the Hindu community of Pakistan on the festival of Holi. In his felicitation message on Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister said that the Holi festival spreads brotherhood feelings and goodwill gesture and this colourful festival is a symbol of happiness and vigor in lives.
The Chief Minister said that all the minorities including the Hindu community are equal citizens of Pakistan and they have the equal rights. The role played by Hindu community in the socio-economic and political fields is appreciable. The Hindu community residing in Pakistan has played a great role for the progress and prosperity of the country. The Chief Minister said that the protection of rights of minorities had an important place in religious teachings and protection of human rights without any discrimination is the recognition of Islamic society. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah also stressed on the equal rights of minorities.
The Chief Minister said that it was the responsibility of state to provide basic rights to minorities and also to protect their rights. We respect the Hindu community residing within Pakistan and all the minorities living in Pakistan are our valuable asset, he added. The Chief Minister said that the Hindu community had rendered invaluable services for the progress and development of Pakistani society.
The Chief Minister said that the PML-N government had ensured the rights of minorities and by providing equal opportunities to minorities they had been included in the national mainstream. The protection of rights of minorities in Pakistan has highlighted soft image of the country at the international level. The Chief Minister said that all the minorities enjoy complete freedom in Pakistan. The Chief Minister said that taking part in the happiness of others would spread the message of love, tolerance and brotherhood. The Chief Minister said that if we would share the grief of one another than it would promote brotherhood, tolerance, unity and peace in the country.
The Chief Minister said that by taking part in each other's celebrations we had to spread the message of peace and brotherhood and on this eve of Holi we had to promise to spread this message of love, tolerance and brotherhood to the length and breadth of the country.