December 24, 2006	Sunday	Zilhaj 02, 1427

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LAHORE, Dec 23: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Saturday stressed the need for promoting brotherhood and condemning those fanning religious hatred in society.

It was the duty of people to discourage such elements, he said and added that all Pakistanis, including Christians, must jointly work for the progress of the country.

He was speaking at a function held at his secretariat in connection with Christmas. Minorities Minister Joyce Rufen Julius, Auqaf Minister Sahibzada Saeedul Hasan, MPAs Shehzad Elahi, Joseph Hakimdin, Goel Amer Sahotra, Patrick Jacob Gill and Bishop Alexander John Malik were also present on the occasion.

The chief minister said like the Muslims, Christians too rendered sacrifices during the Pakistan Movement, and now they were playing an active role for the national progress in every sector, including defence, education, health and sports.

He said huge funds had been allocated in the budget for the protection of minorities’ rights. Five per cent quota had been reserved for them in police and one per cent in government housing societies, he said.

The chief minister said the president had adopted a comprehensive policy for the protection of minorities’ rights. Under this strategy, he said, a separate minority affairs ministry had been established in Punjab to protect their rights and to include them in the development process on priority basis.

He said minorities’ proposals had been made a part of the government policy to ensure their progress and welfare. Special funds were being given to the minority members of the Punjab Assembly so that they could speed up the process of uplift of their communities by completing development schemes for theses segments of society.