From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has announced the launch of the Minorities card in January, a first in Pakistan’s history.
Speaking at a special Christmas ceremony in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz highlighted the significant contributions of the Christian community to Pakistan. She stated, “We are introducing the Minorities card for the first time. If it were up to me, I would increase the budget for minorities by 5,000%.” She emphasised the focus on building a society where individuals could live without fear of violence or discrimination.
During the event, Maryam Nawaz cut a special Christmas cake and extended greetings to the Christian community on behalf of herself and Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawaz Sharif.
Earlier, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday inaugurated Phase-II of Pakistan’s largest educational initiative, the “Honahar Scholarship Program”, covering expenses of 30,000 students annually and 120,000 students over the next four years, marking a historic step in the country’s educational landscape.
Speaking at a ceremony held here at FAST National University of Computer and Engineering Sciences, the Chief Minister stated, “Under this program, talented students can pursue higher education at top Pakistani institutions without financial worries. The Punjab government will cover 100% of the educational expenses for qualified students.”
