Pakistani PM celebrates religious diversity, honors Hindu community’s contributions on Diwali

A Pakistani Hindu family applies coloured powder to a "rangoli", a Hindu ritual design, as they celebrate Diwali festival in Karachi on October 27, 2019. (AFP/File)

• Sharif statement comes as Pakistan occasionally grapples with violent incidents against minority communities
• His message echoes the vision of Pakistan’s founding father who championed a pluralistic state in August 1947

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed pride in Pakistan’s cultural and religious diversity while honoring the contributions of its Hindu community as he extended Diwali greetings on Thursday, with his government emphasizing an inclusive national identity amid recent violence targeting minorities.
Diwali, celebrated by millions of Hindus around the world, is the “Festival of Lights,” symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and hope over despair.
Sharif’s message comes as Pakistan grapples with violent incidents against its minority communities, such as last year’s attacks in Jaranwala, where mobs burned multiple Christian homes and churches following blasphemy allegations. The Hindu community in Pakistan has also complained of forced conversions, especially in the southeastern province of Sindh.
Pakistani authorities, striving to improve the country’s image regarding religious tolerance, have repeatedly asserted the state’s commitment to diversity and equal rights for all citizens.
“As Pakistanis, we take pride in the diversity of our society, which strengthens our national fabric and enriches our shared culture,” Sharif said in a message to mark Diwali. “I pay tribute to the valuable contributions of Pakistan’s vibrant Hindu community, whose roles in our social, economic, and political sectors continue to strengthen our nation.”
Sharif underscored the government’s commitment to upholding equality for all communities and ensuring that Pakistan offers equal opportunities for growth, regardless of faith.
He pointed to the Hindu community’s collaborative efforts with Muslim Pakistanis in advancing national development, which he described as “a source of resilience and unity among our people.”
Sharif’s statement echoes the vision of Pakistan’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who championed a pluralistic state in a landmark August 11, 1947, address to the Constituent Assembly, assuring religious minorities they would be free to practice their faith and affirmed the state’s commitment to equal citizenship for all.
“May this Festival of Lights bring peace and prosperity to your lives and foster strong bonds of unity and brotherhood among people of all religions in our country,” the prime minister said.