Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced the introduction of the Minority Card for the first time in Pakistan’s history. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to underprivileged members of minority communities every three months, enabling them to sustain their livelihoods.
Speaking at a Christmas ceremony at Lahore’s largest church, the House of Prayer, CM Maryam Nawaz stated that the Minority Card will be launched at the start of 2025. She emphasized the government’s commitment to offering maximum financial support to ensure that no member of minority communities has to seek help from others.
“Just as a mother makes no distinction among her children, the state treats all its citizens equally. Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and people of other faiths are the pride of this nation,” she remarked.
The Chief Minister reassured the audience of her dedication to ensuring the safety and prosperity of Punjab’s citizens. “For me, there is no distinction between majority and minority. Every community has an equal stake in Punjab’s development projects,” she added.
Maryam Nawaz highlighted that her presence at the Christmas celebration symbolized unity and solidarity. “I want you to feel that I am one of you and you are a part of me. Anyone who harms minority communities will hurt me personally. Protecting minorities is our collective responsibility,” she said, affirming that her office and home are always open to them.
The CM revealed a 200% increase in the budget for the Christian community, expressing a desire to further expand it by 5,000% if possible. She stressed that increasing the budget was not a favor but a rightful entitlement of the minority communities.
In her concluding remarks, Maryam Nawaz conveyed Christmas greetings on behalf of former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who reminded her of the Quranic verse, “Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen” (All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds). “Nawaz Sharif often says that the term ‘minority’ should not be used, as minorities are as much a part of Pakistan as anyone else,” she shared.
