ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday said that minorities were equal citizens of Pakistan and it was the state’s job to protect them, according to the Pakistani military.
The statement was issued during General Bajwa’s meeting with members of the Hindu community in Nagarparkar town of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province.
Forced conversions and marriage of girls has been a major issue faced by minorities in Pakistan, with those from poor families and low castes largely targeted, according to rights campaigners.
In 2019, the alleged abduction and forced conversion of two Hindu sisters made headlines in Pakistan when a video of their marriage was shared widely on social media.
“Minorities in Pakistan are equal citizens and it is the job of the state to protect them,” General Bajwa said, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
“The Hindu community acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in bringing about secure environment for minorities in the country. They pledged that the Hindu community shall contribute with full zeal toward the economic prosperity of the country.”
The Pakistani army chief spent the day with Pakistani troops stationed at the border town, where the local commander briefed him on operational readiness of the formation, according to the ISPR.
While interacting with troops, COAS appreciated their state of morale and motivation for the fulfilment of assigned mission. He advised all troops to remain focused on professional obligations and training for an effective response to counter any emerging challenge.
Minorities equal citizens, state responsible for protecting them — Pakistan army chief
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Minorities equal citizens, state responsible for protecting them — Pakistan army chief
- General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Sindh’s Nagarparkar, met members of Hindu community
- The army chief spent day with troops stationed in town close to Pakistan’s border with India
Pakistan launches digital cash aid for low-income families during Ramadan, PM says
- Ramadan relief moves from state-run Utility Stores to targeted digital wallet transfers
- Government to transfer financial assistance through wallets to support sehri, iftar expenses
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will provide financial assistance to low-income households through digital wallets during the fasting month of Ramadan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, announcing a government relief initiative aimed at helping families afford daily meals.
The support program comes as many Pakistanis continue to face elevated food and utility costs despite easing inflation, with Ramadan traditionally increasing household spending on staple foods, fruits and energy consumption.
For decades, government-run Utility Stores Corporation outlets were central to Ramadan relief in Pakistan, selling subsidized flour, sugar, ghee and pulses through special “Ramzan packages” that drew long queues in low-income neighborhoods. In recent years, however, authorities have steadily scaled back the system amid mounting losses, corruption complaints and logistical inefficiencies, shifting instead toward targeted cash transfers delivered through digital wallets and banking channels.
The change reflects a broader policy move away from state-managed commodity distribution toward direct financial assistance intended to give households flexibility while reducing leakages in subsidy programs.
“The Government of Pakistan has launched a Ramadan package under which financial assistance will be transferred to deserving individuals through digital wallets so that households can maintain sehri and iftar meals,” Sharif said in a message issued by his office.
The prime minister said Ramadan encourages compassion and collective responsibility toward vulnerable segments of society, adding that welfare support was part of the state’s duty during the holy month.
Officials say the digital cash transfers approach improves transparency and reduces corruption risks while enabling faster payments nationwide, particularly in urban low-income communities.
But the shift to fully digital assistance also brings challenges.
Access to smartphones and reliable mobile Internet remains uneven, particularly in rural areas and among older recipients, while many low-income households use SIM cards registered to someone else, complicating verification.
