ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain felicitated the Hindu community for celebrating this year's Holi festival and believes that the cultural activity generates harmony and brotherhood in society.

“I feel great pleasure to extend my best wishes to the Hindu community celebrating this year's Holi festival all over the world and in particular to those living in Pakistan,” the president said in his message this year.

The president called Holi a time for rejoicing and conveying a message of festivity, happiness, charity, and acknowledged the valuable contribution made by the Hindu community in Pakistan in all fields.

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"The nation is proud of their great contributions for the development of the country and deeply admire their loyalty to the state," he added. “I have no doubt that they will continue to play their positive role for peace, progress and prosperity of Pakistan.”

The president said the equality of all citizens of the state was enshrined in the constitution ─ an idea made abundantly clear by the Quaid-e-Azam in his address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947.

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According to the president, the government of Pakistan is committed to pursuing policies that are aimed at fostering greater inter-faith harmony and cohesion.

“Let me reiterate our commitment to continue fighting religious intolerance. Let it also be made clear that we will not permit the persecution of members of other faiths in the name of religion,” the president stated.