RAHIM YAR KHAN | Nazrana Times Ali Imran Chattha 

Punjab Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora visited Shri Krishna Temple in Tehsil Sadiqabad and joined the Hindu community in celebrating Shri Krishna Janmashtami, conveying greetings from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
During the visit, the minister met members of the Hindu community, congratulated them on the religious festival and conveyed the chief minister’s message of goodwill.
Addressing the ceremony, Arora said minorities were an integral part of Pakistan’s national society and that the Punjab government was taking practical measures to ensure religious freedom, equal rights and a peaceful environment for all citizens without discrimination.
He said minority communities had the right to celebrate their religious festivals according to their faith and with religious freedom, adding that the government was providing possible facilities to support such celebrations.
Arora said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab government was taking measures for the welfare of minorities, protection of religious sites, provision of basic facilities and safeguarding of their rights.
He stressed that all citizens in Punjab were equal before the government and said discrimination on the basis of religion, belief or community would not be tolerated.
Describing Shri Krishna Janmashtami as an important festival for Hindus, Arora said he was pleased to participate in the celebrations. He prayed for peace, prosperity, security and development for the Hindu community and said Pakistan’s strength lay in mutual respect and harmony among its diverse religions, cultures and traditions.
The minister also called for greater interfaith harmony, tolerance and brotherhood, saying that the promotion of mutual respect was essential for building a peaceful and cohesive society.
He assured the Hindu community that the Punjab government remained committed to protecting their lives, property, religious sites and basic rights. He added that district administrations and relevant institutions were making security, cleanliness, traffic and other arrangements during religious festivals to enable minority communities to celebrate freely and safely.
Former MPA Kanji Ram and other Hindu community representatives thanked Arora for attending the ceremony and conveying the chief minister’s message. Community leaders appreciated the government’s initiatives for minorities and expressed support for promoting interfaith harmony.
The ceremony concluded with special prayers for peace, stability, prosperity, security and interfaith harmony in Pakistan.