Karachi / Islamabad: Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council, Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, has proposed to designate a National Day of Religious Freedom at national level. While congratulating the American people on the occasion of National Religious Freedom Day in the US marked on January 16, he emphasized that the international community, including the US, has designated one annual day to promote religious freedom, so why are we lagging behind?
According to Dr. Vankwani, the Pakistan Peoples Party is known for religious harmony and tolerance. “This is my sincere wish that a national day for religious freedom should begin with an address to the nation by the Head of State, the President of Pakistan,” he stated, adding that: “The patriotic Pakistani minorities are willing for hosting the events on this proposed day to ensure the promotion of religious harmony and national unity in the best interest of Pakistan.”
Dr. Ramesh Kumar further regretted that every year in the Religious Freedom Report issued by the United States, Pakistan is criticized for its alleged failures in protection of minorities’ rights. He was of the view that if the Pakistani government, in collaboration with civil society and the media, regularly issues comprehensive reports on the subject of religious freedom within constitutional limits, then the real situation of our beloved homeland could be presented before the international community in a true sense. “Unfortunately, due to lack of authentic information, the international organizations have to rely on anti-Pakistan propaganda and fake news operated from abroad while compiling their reports,” he expressed.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar further informed that for the past thirty-two years, it has been a tradition that the US President begins the day of January 16 by issuing a special proclamation highlighting the US’s contributions regarding religious freedom across the globe. On this day, special events are organized in various religious places in the US, including churches, mosques, temples and other places of worship, while different activities are held in educational institutions and civil society organizations to highlight the importance of religious freedom in a civilized society. “No doubt, the National Day of Religious Freedom in Pakistan would be very effective in highlighting the positive image of our beloved country at the global level,” he concluded.
