ISLAMABAD: Federal and provincial lawmakers belonging to religious minorities, along with legal experts and civil society representatives, on Thursday urged the government to swiftly operationalise the National Commission for Minority Rights (NCMR) by framing rules that reflect the true spirit of the NCMR Act, 2025.

A statement issued here said the demand was made at the conclusion of a two-day National Deliberative Forum on Minority Rights, where participants stressed that timely implementation of the law was essential to safeguard the rights of faith-based communities across the country.

The forum, titled “Strengthening the National Commission for Minorities: From Enactment to Effective Implementation,” brought together more than 22 minority legislators from the National Assembly and provincial legislatures. The forum was arranged by the Trust for Democratic Educational and Accountability (TDEA),

The participants reviewed the legislative history of the Act, identified its strengths and gaps, and discussed a framework for drafting subordinate legislation. They also explored the idea of forming a cross-parliamentary minority caucus to strengthen coordination on minority issues.

Addressing the closing session, European Union Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis said the EU-Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan reflected a shared commitment to promoting tolerance, interfaith harmony and inclusion.

He described the enactment of the NCMR law as a positive step, but emphasised the need for effective implementation, adequate resources, representative leadership and institutional autonomy for the commission.

Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Kesoo Mal Kheal Das said the government was working on an interfaith harmony policy and aimed to establish the commission within the next two months.

He appreciated the platform for bringing together minority lawmakers from across the country to discuss common challenges.

Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed termed the forum a constructive initiative that enabled legislators to present concerns of minority communities in an organised manner.

He welcomed the proposal for an inter-parliamentary caucus, noting it could help address minority issues, reinforce constitutional supremacy and strengthen provincial autonomy. He also highlighted the need for post-legislative scrutiny to assess whether laws deliver meaningful outcomes.

Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora said the provincial government would give due consideration to the forum’s recommendations. He reiterated that minority rights remained a priority and shared plans to establish a provincial caucus, while acknowledging that implementation remained the key challenge.

Dr Sham Sundar, Special Assistant to the Sindh Chief Minister on Minority Affairs, stressed the importance of coordination among stakeholders to ensure constitutional protections for minorities.

Participants described the NCMR Act as a landmark achievement but pointed to structural concerns that could weaken its impact if not addressed in the rules. They called for an inclusive and consultative rule-making process, ensuring the commission’s financial and operational independence, and grounding the framework in constitutional guarantees. They emphasised that the final rules must carry the same democratic legitimacy as the law itself.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2026