RAWALPINDI: Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora on Monday said that a formal road map for the protection of human rights has been formulated in Punjab and the provincial government will implement it and sought the cooperation of all stakeholders in this regard.

He stated this while speaking at the launching ceremony of Huqooq-i- Pakistan II project in connection with Human Rights Day at a local hotel in Islamabad.Prominent human rights experts, government officials and international representatives participated in the event.

The purpose of the event was to focus on inter-institutional cooperation for the promotion of human rights in Pakistan.

Ramesh Singh Arora said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz prioritised the protection of the rights of minorities and attention is being paid to religious tourism.

He said that human rights education plays an important role and helped in awareness and empowerment of minority groups. The provincial minister also discussed the specific challenges of the minority community in Pakistan and highlighted the importance of practical implementation of policies for their protection and inclusion.

He emphasised the need for institutional cooperation, and said that effective implementation of human rights initiatives requires cooperation at all levels of government and collaboration with civil society and international institutions.

Mr Arora also discussed the importance of Pakistan’s harmonisation with international human rights standards and treaties.

He said the role of provinces, especially Punjab, is very important in the implementation of these standards.

The conference also featured several panel discussions, including the practical nature of the Business and Human Rights framework, inclusion of women’s voices in human rights debates, and provinces’ fulfillment of global human rights responsibilities.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2024