ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday reiterated that minority communities living in Pakistan have equal rights and emphasized that the quota of jobs for them in various government departments is being increased.
Speaking after signing the Christian Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2024 at Aiwan-i-Sadr, the President said he would write to the federal government to increase job quotas in various departments, including police, FIA, etc., for minorities.
“I will definitely write to the government and ask them for it,” he said, adding that there should be a quota for minorities in every department.
The President declared that all citizens of the country have equal rights and urged the minorities to continue to play their role for the progress and prosperity of the country as this land and land belongs to them as much as to him.
He also advised them not to be discouraged by some questions regarding politics as there may be some problems in any society.
President Zardari mentioned that PPP made sacrifices for the country as their leaders and workers laid down their lives for the people.
The ceremony was attended by Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Secretary of the Ministry of Religion, officials and representatives of the Christian community.
Under the amended law of 2024, the marriage age for couples belonging to the Christian community was raised to 18. Previously, the age of marriage was 16 for Christian men and 13 for women.