Grand Celebration of National Minority Day at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, Lahore

Lahore, August 11 Bureau Report Nazarana Times

A vibrant ceremony marking National Minority Day was held at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, with Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora as chief guest. Parliamentary Secretary Sonia Asher, Secretary HR & Minority Affairs Fareed Ahmed Tarar, minority MPAs, faith leaders, diplomats, sports figures, and a large public gathering attended.

Opening with the national anthem and recitations from holy scriptures, the event celebrated Pakistan’s unity in diversity. In his address, Minister Arora said Pakistan seeks peace but stands ready to defend itself, paying tribute to Field Marshal for giving India a befitting response and to the Pakistan Army for safeguarding the nation. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to minority rights, highlighting distribution of 50,000 minority cards (soon 75,000) and scholarships from matric to PhD.

Speakers, including Baba Fabulous, Tariq Masih Gill, Shakeela Arthur, and Sonia Asher, praised government initiatives and the peaceful coexistence of all religions in Pakistan. Patriotic chants of “Pakistan Zindabad” filled the hall, and a documentary on minority contributions was screened. The event concluded with the distribution of scholarship cheques to 1,100 students.