Islamabad, August 11, 2026: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of minority communities, ensuring equal opportunities and promoting interfaith harmony, peaceful coexistence and social cohesion in Pakistan.
In his message on National Minorities Day, observed annually on August 11, the prime minister said the day was commemorated with a firm resolve to acknowledge the invaluable presence of minority communities, their inclusion in the national mainstream and their significant contributions to the country’s progress and prosperity.
He said minorities were an integral part of Pakistan’s national fabric and reflected the diversity of the country’s social and cultural landscape.
The prime minister recalled the historic statement made by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August 11, 1947, while addressing the inaugural session of the Constituent Assembly, in which he affirmed the rights and religious freedom of minorities in Pakistan.
“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in the State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed—that has nothing to do with the business of the State,” he quoted the Quaid-e-Azam as saying.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said these historic words continued to hold an enduring place in Pakistan’s social order, system of governance and religious ethos.
He said National Minorities Day also served as a reaffirmation of Pakistan’s commitment to unity among different segments and communities of society, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and equal opportunities for all.
“Pakistan is a diverse society where people belonging to different faiths, cultures, nationalities and traditions live together in harmony,” he said.
The prime minister highlighted the contributions of minority communities to Pakistan’s development, saying they had played a pivotal role from the Pakistan Movement and the creation of the country to the present day.
He said members of minority communities had rendered invaluable services in the economic, educational, social, cultural and political spheres.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan guaranteed the protection of the rights and interests of minority communities, while these constitutional safeguards were further reinforced by an effective legal framework.
He noted that the country’s laws contained provisions for the protection of minority places of worship, prohibition of discriminatory practices and prevention of hate speech.
The prime minister described the enactment of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 2025, as a significant national milestone for safeguarding minority rights.
Under the Act, he said, the Ministry of Human Rights was taking necessary steps for establishing an independent commission. The commission would work to redress grievances, oversee constitutional and legal safeguards, make recommendations on government policies and legislation, monitor matters relating to places of worship and employment quotas, and promote equality and inclusion.
He said the government had also introduced the Interfaith Harmony Policy 2025 to promote interfaith harmony and social cohesion by protecting religious freedom, encouraging interfaith dialogue and ensuring equal opportunities without discrimination.
The government was also implementing the National Policy for Countering Violent Extremism 2024, he added.
The Ministry of Human Rights, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, had also introduced the National Action Plan for Human Rights 2026, which included specific measures for protecting and promoting the rights of minority communities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the federal government, in collaboration with provincial governments, relevant institutions and civil society, reaffirmed its collective resolve to continue making every possible effort to protect the rights of every citizen, particularly those belonging to minority communities.
He said the government would continue working to ensure equal opportunities for all and advance Pakistan towards the goal of a peaceful, tolerant and united society.
