One Pakistan House In Madina Operational To Accommodate Umra Zaireen: Khalil George

ISLAMABAD, Feb 1 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 01st Feb, 2017 ) : Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Khalil George Wednesday said that there was only one Pakistan House at Madina Munawarrah which was being used for accommodation for Umra Zaireen through out the year.

Speaking in the National Assembly during question hour, he said that a "Draft Interfaith Harmony Policy" had been prepared and necessary views of all the stakeholders had been compiled and would be reconsidered in next meeting of the National Commission for Minorities, as and when held.

In order to achieve the purpose of religious tolerance and harmony in the country, the Government has notified for the re-constitution of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) alongwith revised TOR's.

To promote the religious activities of minority communities, ten important religious festivals of Minority Communities including Divali, Easter, Christmas, Eid-Ridvan Birth of Guru Nanak etc were celebrated officially, he added.

Government, he said had fixed 5% job quota for minorities in all Federal Government services with a view to improve their representation in the Government machinery.

He said in order to ensure adequate representation of minorities, ten seats had been reserved for minorities in the National Assembly and 4 seats in the Senate, beside reserved seats in all Provincial Assemblies.

Parliamentary Secretary said that Minority Students Scholarships rates had been doubled. Minorities Welfare Fund is used for grant of financial assistance to the poor segments of minorities & scholarships to minorities students on merit and for execution -of small development schemes for the repair of the worship places of minorities.

On the recommendations of this Ministry, Provincial Governments have established "District Interfaith Harmony Committees" comprising members from all religions so that these committees may take immediate action to address any incident at initial level, he said.

This Ministry has also notified the "National Ulama & Mashaikh Council, to achieve the goal of Interfaith/Sectarian Harmony in the country. he added. Replying to another question, he said that as per reconciled figures, the average per head amount returned to Hujjaj of Hajj-2015 and 2016 was Rs 11,117/- and Rs 12,777/- respectively.