ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali says minorities in the country enjoy equal rights that are protected by the Constitution.

The prime minister stated this while talking to the parliamentary secretary for minorities affairs, MNA Prof Mushtaq Victor, who called on him at the Prime Minister House on Wednesday. The MNA was accompanied by MPA Patrick Jacob Gill and Faisalabad district assembly member Robin Daniel.

Mr Jamali said the government was working for the welfare of minorities as they were respectable citizens of the country.

Prof Victor thanked the premier for taking keen interest in the welfare of minorities. The MNA said the government's decision to revert to the joint electorate system had brought the minorities back into the mainstream.

He assured the prime minister that the minorities would continue to play their role in national development.

APP ADDS: The prime minister has reiterated the government's resolve to ameliorate the lot of common man. He was talking to a three-member delegation from Dadu, Sindh, headed by Abdul Ahad Jamali here on Wednesday.

Mr Jamali said the government was striving to improve and provide basic amenities to the people, especially those living in remote and backward areas of the country. Similarly, health and educational facilities are being improved and strengthened, while the communication network is being upgraded, he added.

The prime minister said efforts were being made to improve the lot of the people and the results would be visible soon.

The delegation apprised the premier of the problems being faced by the people of the area, and discussed matters relating to various development schemes, particularly the Johi canal. The delegation included Akhtar Ali Jamali and Ashfaq Jamali.