LAHORE, Aug 24 (APP):Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora on Monday said the Punjab government was mulling legislation and policy reforms to provide necessary cover to the girls from religious minority against forced conversions, abductions, and forced marriages. Speaking during a policy dialogue “Together for Tolerance: Strengthening Minority Rights & Inclusion,” at a local hotel, he said the provincial government of Maryam Nawaz Sharif will introduce legislative amendments …
Govt mulling legislation to curb forced marriage of minority girls, says Arora
LAHORE, Aug 24 (APP):Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora on Monday said the Punjab government was mulling legislation and policy reforms to provide necessary cover to the girls from religious minority against forced conversions, abductions, and forced marriages.
Speaking during a policy dialogue “Together for Tolerance: Strengthening Minority Rights & Inclusion,” at a local hotel, he said the provincial government of Maryam Nawaz Sharif will introduce legislative amendments to ensure that honor and life of female members of minority section of the society were as sacred as that of the majority.
The Policy Dialogue was held under the auspices of the Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR), the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), and the European Union (EU).
Referring to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision for the protection and well-being of minorities in the province, he said the first female Chief Minister of Punjab regarded the minorities as “Crown on their heads”. He said it was the minorities’ friendly approach of Maryam Nawaz Sharif that the provincial budget of the fiscal year 2026-27 was increased to 14 billion rupees. The raise in the budget for minorities was a clear reflection of Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s efforts for welfare of the minorities.
Ramesh Singh Arora, speaking on the occasion, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding equal citizenship rights.
“The current administration is giving special attention to reforming minority affairs, including ongoing work on the Christian Marriage Act,” Arora said. He emphasized that resolving these issues required broader societal mindset changes alongside robust institutional and legal frameworks.
The policy dialogue was attended by key stakeholders, including Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rasheed Lodhi, minority MPA Shakila Arthur, PCHR Executive Director Shafique Chaudhry, former Federal Minister Kamran Michael, and CSJ Executive Director Peter Jacob
