President desires enhancement in jobs quota for minorities

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday reiterated that the minority communities living in Pakistan enjoyed equal rights and stressed upon increasing jobs quota for them in different government departments.

Addressing a ceremony after signing the Christian Marriage (Amendment) Act 2024 at the Aiwan-i-Sadr, the president said that he would write to the federal government to enhance the jobs quota in different departments including police, FIA, etc., for the minorities.

“I will definitely write to the government and ask them for this,” he said, adding that there should be a quota for the minorities in every department, the official news agency reported.

President Zardari said that all the citizens of the country had equal rights and urged the minorities to continue playing their role for the progress and prosperity of the country as this soil and land belonged to them as much as to him.

He also advised them not be disheartened at certain issues pertaining to politics as there might be some problems in every society.

President Zardari mentioned that PPP had given sacrifices for the country as their leaders and workers laid down lives for the people.

The ceremony was attended by Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain, secretary of the religious ministry, officials and representatives of the Christian community.

Under the amended act, the marriage age of couples belonging to the Christian community has been increased to 18 years. Previously, the marriage age for Christian males was 16 years and for females, it was 13 years.