With the theme of 'human rights defenders, who act to end discrimination,' 'World Human Rights Day' was observed here like other parts of the world on Friday with a renewed pledge to give respect to human dignity through protection of their rights.
To mark the day, seminars, workshops and walks were held both at the government and private levels in big cities to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, which has become a universal standard for defending and promoting human rights.
Speaking at a seminar held in connection with the World Human Rights Day in Lahore, provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Kamran Michael has said that provision of basic rights to every citizen can help transform any society into a strong and economically vibrant nation.
Parliamentary Secretary Punjab Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Secretary Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Arshad Bin Ahmad, Addl. Secretary Usman Sarosh Alvi, Deputy Secretary Zahid Sharif, Chairperson APWA Ms Rohi Syed, Dr Muhammad Hafeez, Rahla Rahat, Shamsa Ali Advocate, NGO workers, students and a large number of women from rural areas also participated in the seminar.
The Minister said that when any state falls prey to the dictatorship, it leaves a negative impact on all its political as well as social institutions. It is regrettable that in Pakistan this sorry state of affairs has persisting since a long time, he added. He further said that Punjab government aims at very respectfully providing all basic rights to citizens and in this connection under the able leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
The Minister disclosed that allocation of 5-percent job quota for minorities, holding of Christmas bazaars and Christmas gift package of Rs 3,000 per family for the welfare of minorities benefiting 3500 families from the special fund of Rs 10 million, are the solid steps taken by the Chief Minister Punjab.
Parliamentary Secretary Khalil Tahir Sindhu said that all human rights violations in the society cannot be linked to religion. We will have to look back to our religious teachings and thus undergo a positive change in our perception by fully acting upon these teachings, he added. He said that when any state fulfills all its responsibilities, condition of human rights in the society improves, automatically.
In other functions, speakers urged the government to fulfil its obligations under international human rights law for the protection of all its citizens. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had already said that increase in militancy and intolerance has heightened threats to human rights in Pakistan and this year growing militancy, extremism and intolerance have posed the main threat to the people's rights.