LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Ejaz Alam Augustine has said that the provincial government is committed to dedicate itself to addressing human rights issues and to ensure that the principles enshrined in the Constitution must be turned into legislation with effective implementation.

He was speaking at the Minister`s Block here on Monday as a delegation of US Consulate including Economic and Political Chief Barry H. Junker and economic and political specialist Sadaf Saad called on him for a good working relationship regarding religious freedom and interfaith dialogue.

The minister said the government had also started the minorities` empowerment package, which is expected to help the religious communities of Punjab and the package included implementation of minorities` quota for jobs and education, system for remission of sentences, skill development training, quota in the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme and the introduction of religious education in schools for nonMuslim students.

He said the government was also keen on chalking out a policy for construction of worship places of minorities and the Punjab government had allocated a grant of Rs30 million for the Christian community.

Barry H. Junker emphasised the importance of religious freedom, the protection of religious minorities, andrespect.

He also discussed ways the US could partner with Pakistan in the promotion of international religious freedom and interfaith dialogue, seeking opportunities to protect persecuted Muslims, Christians, and people of other faiths.