Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing nation on Sunday in Islamabad. Photo: Screenshot
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended Diwali greetings to the Hindu community and other religious minorities, calling the festival a “beautiful message of joy, peace and tolerance” and reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting minority rights.
Addressing a special ceremony at the Prime Minister’s House that included senior religious and diplomatic figures, members of minority communities and parliamentary representatives, the prime minister said the presence of Hindu, Christian and other minority leaders at the event reflected “the living reality of Pakistan’s pluralism.”
He reiterated that every citizen regardless of faith has the constitutional right to practice religious rituals without fear.
Referring to recent government steps, Shehbaz highlighted progress on institutional and policy measures aimed at strengthening minority protections.
He noted parliamentary approval and ongoing work to give the proposed National Commission for Minorities a firmer legal foundation and said the government had rolled out targeted support programmes from scholarships for minority students at primary through tertiary levels to representation of minorities in federal and provincial assemblies.
The prime minister praised minority communities for their contributions in fields ranging from public service to defence and development, saying their patriotism and public-spirited work were a source of national pride.
He urged Muslims and non-Muslims to work “shoulder to shoulder” to resist hatred, intolerance and extremism and to preserve Pakistan as a land of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Shehbaz also pointed to steps taken under youth and social-welfare programmes to increase inclusion, and said the state would continue to ensure equal opportunities for minorities in education, health and public employment.
He emphasised that religious festivals enjoyed official recognition and that holidays and workplace accommodations were provided to enable citizens to observe their faiths.
Concluding his remarks, the prime minister once again wished the Hindu community a happy Diwali and called on political and religious leaders to deepen interfaith dialogue.
PM stresses energy reforms and SME growth
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the Power Division and relevant ministries to devise effective policy measures for boosting domestic industrial production and ensuring wider participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country’s industrial growth.
Chairing separate meetings on power sector reforms and SME development, the prime minister stressed that electricity generation should be strategically utilised to enhance productivity in the agricultural and industrial sectors. He stressed that the optimal use of power resources could help increase the output of goods and strengthen the national economy.
Shehbaz emphasised the government’s commitment to supporting both agriculture and industry, instructing officials to develop policies that maximise the beneficial use of available energy resources. He said the government would take all necessary measures to facilitate investors and industrialists, enabling them to expand operations and contribute to economic stability.
The prime minister was briefed on a proposed reform package aimed at ensuring the comprehensive and efficient use of the country’s power production. The meeting was attended by Power Minister Awais Leghari, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Adviser on Industries Haroon Akhtar, and other senior officials.
In a separate session reviewing the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) restructuring, the prime minister called for encouraging the registration of cottage and small businesses so they could access loans and participate in formal industrial networks.
He said that industrial growth in developed economies was driven by SMEs providing raw materials and support to large industries. He directed authorities to train rural SMEs in processing agricultural commodities and appreciated the ministry’s progress on SME reforms.
Shehbaz noted that new SMEDA offices in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan were well received by local business communities. He urged early implementation of SMEDA’s roadmap to integrate SMEs into the formal economy and accelerate industrial expansion across the country.
Officials briefed the meeting on the establishment of a private sector-led SMEDA board, progress in SME financing and capacity-building, and the development of an AI-powered Womenpreneurship Platform to assist women in business registration, taxation, and skill training.
(WITH INPUT FROM APP)
