ISLAMABAD:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a peaceful, tolerant and inclusive society, saying Pakistan remained dedicated to ensuring dignity, equality and mutual respect for all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity or religion.
In his message on the International Day of Living Together in Peace, the prime minister said Pakistan joined the international community in observing the day, which highlighted the importance of promoting peaceful, harmonious and united societies at both national and international levels.
He said fostering a social environment that promoted peace was not only part of Pakistan’s visionary heritage but also a constitutional responsibility.
Quoting the Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the prime minister recalled his words: “We believe in the principle of honesty and fair play in both national and international dealings and are prepared to make our utmost contributions to the promotion of peace and prosperity within and without.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said these principles formed the foundation of Pakistan’s national identity and continued to guide efforts towards creating a more harmonious and united society at both national and global levels.
He said Pakistan’s Constitution guaranteed safeguards against all forms of discrimination, including provincial, ethnic, sectarian and regional prejudices, while the country’s diversity of languages, cultures and traditions remained a source of national strength.
The prime minister said positive national narratives such as Paigham-e-Pakistan were helping eliminate ideological and practical extremism while promoting national unity and social harmony.
He said the “National Action Plan on Human Rights” had been formulated to promote women’s empowerment, child protection and the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups.
He added that implementation of Pakistan’s first “National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights” was also underway to encourage responsible business conduct, labour rights protection and elimination of discrimination.
The prime minister said the government was further promoting tolerance, unity and social cohesion through the “Human Rights Awareness Programme,” while institutional mechanisms had been strengthened through the establishment and operationalization of the National Commission for Human Rights.
He said District Human Rights Committees had also been set up at the provincial level to advance social harmony at the grassroots level, alongside measures such as the “National Strategy on Prevention of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence” and the Minority Welfare Fund.
Referring to recent legal reforms, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government had introduced important legislation aimed at eliminating harmful social practices and violence, including the “ICT Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act 2026,” the “ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025,” and the “National Commission for Minority Rights Act 2025.”
He said these measures reflected the government’s unwavering commitment to building a united, tolerant and peaceful society where every individual could live with dignity and equality.
The prime minister also called upon the youth, religious leaders and civil society to play their role in promoting tolerance, compassion and coexistence, urging collective efforts to build a Pakistan and a world where harmony and shared prosperity prevailed over division and discord.