TAXILA: Punjab Minister for Social Welfare and Baitul Mall Syed Yawar Abbass Boukhari on Saturday said the government would provide all facilities to the minorities in the country.

He was speaking at a ceremony held to distribute cheques among minorities in Attock.

Deputy Commissioner Ali Annan Qammar, assistant commissioner Zarmina Wazeer, district officer social welfare Haseeb Khalid, Christian human rights activist Ms Sheeren Aslam were also present on this occasion.

The minister said: “All minorities living in Pakistan were enjoying complete religious freedom as all their rights were protected as per the country’s Constitution.”

The present government is committed to providing equal opportunities to the minority communities, he added.

He said the Punjab government was providing scholarships to students of minority communities from SSC to Ph.D.

He said two per cent quota has also been allocated in higher education institutions along with five per cent job quota, he added.

He revealed that a sum of Rs50 million had been allocated for educational scholarship scheme for minority students.

He sad 50pc scholarship is earmarked for Central Punjab, 35pc for Southern Punjab and the share of Northern Punjab students is 15pc.

Non-Muslim students are given scholarships ranging from Rs 15,000 to 50,000 from SSC to higher studies.

“The PTI government will continue to provide different facilities to the minority community students,” he added.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2021