LAHORE: A group of members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) of different political parties on Tuesday proposed to jointly promote minority rights and demanded their representation in the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB).

The MPAs jointly held a conference at the Lahore Press Club organised by Bargad, a youth development organisation, to finalise recommendations for inclusion of the minorities representation in the PCTB. MPAs Sadia Sohail Rana, Tariq Masih Gill, Haroon Imran Gill, Sameera Ahmad, Shazia Abid, Khalil Tahir Sindhu and Syed Hassan Murtaza were present in the conference.

The MPAs announced to jointly table and support amendment to Section 8 of the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board Act 2015. They would include at least one woman and one expert as a representative of minority communities in the Act.

Sadia Sohail Rana said support of the elected representatives was crucial for the successful implementation of the legislative amendment bill. Representation of the minorities in the PCTB would be a significant indicator to promote inclusivity and equal citizenship in Punjab, she added.

“The minority package 2018 shows commitment of the government to uplift the minorities as equal citizens and amendment in PCTB Act 2015 and inclusion of minority member is only one initiative as part of the bigger package which will unfold greater opportunities for the minorities,” Ms Rana added.

PTI MPA Haroon Imran Gill said as legislators, we would like to take this draft forward in the Punjab Assembly and request the opposition to support it. He said the parliamentarians were supporting issues of under-representation of the minority population for promotion of peaceful coexistence.

“Their legislative performance and oversight of the executive will bring about positive results for future generations of Pakistan,” he said.

Mr Murtaza lauded the parliamentarians for raising questions on issues beyond their respective constituencies. He said they should jointly work for issues across the party lines.

Mr Sindhu and Bargad Executive Director Shaheen also spoke.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2019