Photo taken on Feb. 22, 2016 shows a view of the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. The mosque was designed by a Turkish architect and completed in 1986. Shaped like a desert Bedouin's tent, it is an iconic symbol of Islamabad. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)
Pakistani PM vows to offer more opportunities to the country's minorities in a message marking the National Minorities Day.
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The government of Pakistan has been striving to make up for socio-economic deficiencies and ensure a level playing field for minorities in the country, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday, marking the National Day of Minorities.
"Today, I would like to reaffirm the government's resolve for the betterment and welfare of our minorities and their fullest inclusion in the national life and development," said Sharif, according to the statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.
To achieve the objective, he said the government has adopted measures such as allocation of special quota at representative fora in educational institutions and services.
Dedicated financial support for the promotion and uplift of the poorest segments of the minorities are also part of the measures, the prime minister added.
The National Day of Minorities, which is celebrated on Aug. 11 every year, serves to highlight the contributions that minority communities made to national development, according to the statement.
"Pakistan belongs to its people without any discrimination of caste, creed and color," said the prime minister.■
