Karachi/Islamabad—Pakistan’s leadership has extended heartfelt greetings to the Hindu community on the occasion of Diwali, the festival of lights, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to inclusivity and minority rights.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and other prominent political figures, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, conveyed their warm wishes.
Key Highlights:
- President Zardari highlighted that Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, emphasizing that the Pakistani Constitution guarantees equal rights and full religious freedom for all citizens.
- Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed his government’s dedication to equality and progress for all communities, tweeting a message that wished the festival would “dispel darkness, foster harmony, and guide us all toward a future of peace, compassion, and shared prosperity.”
- Provincial Holiday Declared: The Sindh government, maintaining its tradition, declared a two-day public holiday (October 20 and 21) exclusively for Hindu employees in government, semi-government, and municipal institutions to allow them to celebrate the festival with their families. This effectively creates a three-day break for Hindu employees, as October 19 is a Sunday.
- Celebrations and Security: Hindu communities across Pakistan, particularly in Sindh and southern Punjab, are celebrating the festival with traditional fervor, illuminating temples with lamps, performing puja, and exchanging sweets. Security arrangements have been ensured at temples and communal places in Sindh.
- Minority Welfare Initiatives: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif extended her greetings and announced plans for a ‘Special Minority Card’ and a ‘Minority Virtual Police Station’ under the Safe Punjab Vision to ensure better access to justice for minorities.
The widespread greetings and the declared holiday in Sindh underscore the nation’s acknowledgment of its religious diversity and its efforts to promote interfaith harmony.
