President and Prime Minister pledge Pakistan will strengthen equality and legal safeguards for minority communities.

On National Minorities Day, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued separate messages affirming Pakistan’s commitment to equality and minority rights. The messages were delivered on the same day that marks the anniversary of the country’s independence. President Zardari urged Pakistan to become a country where justice, equality, tolerance, and service to humanity define the nation. He highlighted the significant contributions of minority communities to conflicts, wars, health, education and other areas of national life, noting that they continue to serve alongside fellow citizens. Prime Minister Sharif announced that the government would strengthen constitutional and legal safeguards for minorities. He referred to the proposed National Commission for Minorities Act, 2025; the Interfaith Harmony Policy, 2025; and the National Action Plan for Human Rights, 2026. Both leaders cited the founding principles set out by Quaid‑e‑Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1947 and later integrated into the Constitution of 1973. They stressed that Pakistan’s strength lies in unity, mutual respect and equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of religion or faith.