Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has commended the efforts of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) regarding the rights of minorities in the country. He was talking to the Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, who called on him in Islamabad on Tuesday. Matters pertaining to the protection of the minorities’ rights and promotion of religious and interfaith harmony were discussed in the meeting.

According to Radio Pakistan, the President called for taking effective measures to retrieve the worship places of minorities from illegal possession. On this occasion, the Minister briefed the President that scholarships worth sixty million rupees have been given to more than two thousand students from the minorities’ welfare fund. He said that financial assistance has also been given to more than one thousand needy people.

Sardar Muhammad Yousaf mentioned that forty point five million rupees have been allocated for the renovation of worship places of the minorities. He briefed the President that free facilities are being provided to the minorities during their events including Baisakhi, birthday of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Kitass Raj, and Sadhu Bela.

The Minister informed the President that consultations are made with the religious scholars of different schools of thought to curb hate speeches. The Minister expressed gratitude to President Asif Ali Zardari for taking keen interest and extending cooperation for protection of rights and resolution of issues faced by minorities in the country.