LAHORE, Mar 02 (APP): Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora has said that on the special instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the budget of the Punjab Human Rights and Minority Affairs Department has been set at Rs 8 billion, while Rs 4 billion has been allocated for minority cards.
The minister said that minority cards are being given to 150,000 minority families across the province, which are being provided solely on the basis of merit, irrespective of political affiliation. Holi Grant is being given to a total of 1400 families from the Hindu community across the province.
He was addressing a function organized in connection with the festival of Holi of the Hindu community at the local marquee of Yazman city. Delegations of the Hindu community from across the division participated in the function and celebrated in a traditional manner.
Children of the Hindu community presented beautiful tableaux at the function and received appreciation from the audience.
Minister Arora distributed relief cheques of Rs 4.3 million as Holi grant to the Hindu community at the function.