ISLAMABAD, 11 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of minority communities and promoting a peaceful, tolerant and united society on the occasion of National Minorities Day.In his message, the prime minister said Pakistan is a diverse society where people belonging to different faiths, cultures, nationalities and traditions live together in harmony. He said minority communities had played a pivotal role in the Pakistan Movement, the creation of Pakistan and the country’s subsequent progress and national development, rendering valuable services in the economic, educational, social, cultural and political spheres.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the protection of the rights and interests of minority communities. He described the enactment of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 2025 as a significant national milestone for safeguarding minority rights. He added that the Interfaith Harmony Policy 2025 had also been introduced to protect religious freedom, promote interfaith dialogue and ensure equal opportunities without discrimination.The prime minister further said the government was implementing the National Policy for Countering Violent Extremism 2024. He reaffirmed that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial governments, relevant institutions and civil society, would continue making every possible effort to protect the rights of every citizen, particularly members of minority communities, ensure equal opportunities and advance the goal of a peaceful, tolerant and united Pakistan.