Jobs and scholarships for religious minorities in Punjab

The government of Punjab province promotes concrete steps to improve the lives of religious minorities.  It has officially accepted to apply the law - promoted by the former Catholic Minister killed, Shahbaz Bhatti, that reserves a share of 5% of the jobs in the public administration to citizen members of religious minorities- Christians and Hindus.

In addition, the Prime Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, has approved the allocation of more than 30 million rupees as scholarships for deserving students, belonging to religious minorities.

The Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs, Khalil Tahir Sindhu, a Catholic told Fides: "With an order officially issued by the government, the share of 5% of jobs, is exclusively for religious minorities, and has to be respected and preserved. This can be considered a historic success". Minister Sindhu says that "the government is committed to bringing prosperity to the development of religious minorities, starting with young people and students". Sindhu remembers "the role of minorities in the construction of the development of the nation", ensuring its commitment to their socio-economic development". (Fides)