ICV celebrates Pakistan’s National Minority Day annually to honour the services and sacrifices rendered by all religious minorities to their homeland since its independence. Through this event, we join with all citizens of Pakistan, regardless of religion, to recognize the significant role that religious minorities have and continue to play in Pakistan.
The inspiration to mark a national Minority Day was driven by the famous speech of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s address to the Constitutional Assembly on 11 August 1947 where Mr. Jinnah said: “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State”.Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti was instrumental in designating August 11th as National Minority Day in Pakistan as the first and only Federal Minister for Minorities’ Affairs. Some of his most significant actions as Minister were:
- The launching of a national campaign to promote interfaith harmony
- The introduction of job quotas for religious minorities in government posts
- The reservation of four seats in the Senate of Pakistan for religious minorities
- Designating August 11th as National Minority Day in Pakistan