By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Minorities Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, attended the “National Stability of Pakistan Conference” as a special guest. The event, organized by Majlis Ulama Pakistan at a local hotel in Lahore, was chaired by Maulana Syed Abdul Khabir Azad, Khateeb & Imam of the Badshahi Mosque and Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
The conference commemorated Pakistan’s Independence Day and the historic military success of “Operation Banyan Marsous,” paying glowing tribute to the country’s armed forces. Discussions focused on fostering religious harmony, tolerance, respect for humanity, and advancing the “Paigham-e-Pakistan” initiative.
In his address, Minister Ramesh Singh Arora paid rich tribute to the Pakistan Army, stating, “Pakistan is our shared homeland where every religion, community, and citizen enjoys equal rights. Our collective strength lies in unity, tolerance, and mutual respect.”
He applauded Chief Minister Punjab for prioritizing minority rights, calling minorities the “crown of her head” and taking tangible steps to eliminate past deprivations. He announced a week-long series of events starting August 7 to mark Minorities Day, with broad stakeholder participation.
Minister Arora highlighted the longstanding contributions of minorities to national defense, education, healthcare, and the economy. “We must strengthen our country with love, trust, and brotherhood,” he said, reaffirming the Punjab Government’s commitment to protecting minority rights, restoring places of worship, and expanding opportunities for youth in education and employment. “Pakistan is not just a piece of land—it is an ideology that we must protect together,” he emphasized.
Chairing the session, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad underscored the importance of collective responsibility in securing Pakistan’s future and announced that this year’s Independence Day celebrations would also honor the victory in Operation Banyan Marsous. He called for greater interfaith dialogue and national cohesion.
Punjab Secretary for Human Rights, Fareed Ahmed Tarar, stressed the importance of human dignity and urged all sectors to work collectively to uphold human rights.
Other notable speakers included Dr. Syed Tahir Raza Bukhari (Secretary & Chief Administrator Religious Affairs & Auqaf Punjab), senior journalist Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Khateeb of Data Darbar Ramzan Sialvi, Hindu leader Lal Khokhar, and Bishop Nadeem Kamran.
The event concluded with special prayers for Pakistan’s peace, unity, and prosperity. Eminent scholars, spiritual leaders, political and social figures, youth representatives, and citizens from diverse backgrounds actively participated in the conference.
