Cabinet fixes 5% job quota for minorities

On 22 November, 2008 the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that the government would provide five percent quota to them in all federal government jobs. Yesterday, this decision was approved by the cabinet. Both stories are given here. Asif Aqeel

5 percent quota for minorities in all federal jobs: PM Yousuf Raza Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the government is committed to protecting the rights of minorities as envisaged in the constitution of Pakistan and would provide five percent quota to them in all federal government jobs. Necessary legislation would soon be moved in this regard, he added.

The Premier said this while talking to the Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, who called on him at the Prime Minister House on Thursday afternoon.

The Prime Minister said the government is taking steps for bringing minorities in the mainstream and resolving their problems on priority basis.

He also issued directions to the concerned authorities in this regard. The Prime Minister said the religious festivals of the minorities should be celebrated at national level and their proper coverage to be ensured in the state media.

The Prime Minister lauded the services rendered by members of the minority community towards the stability and prosperity of the country.

Shahbaz Bhatti apprised the Prime Minister of various matters related to his ministry as well as his constituency. He also invited the Prime Minister to visit the Ministry of Minorities Affairs.

Cabinet fixes 5% job quota for minorities

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved a job quota of five percent for the minorities of the country in all the government departments.

Briefing the media about the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held here Wednesday with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in chair, Minister for Information and Broadcast Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the cabinet decided to fix the quota for the minorities keeping their grievances in view.

He said due to government’s good fiscal policies various economic indicators, including current account deficit, fiscal deficit and inflation rate, have improved significantly.

Kaira said that the country could not only be run on foreign aid and the government would impose taxes on new sections of the society. However, the number of the taxes would be reduced, he added.

The minister said that agriculture, stock markets and property business sectors would be included in the tax net from the next fiscal year.

He revealed that few countries have started dumping their products in Pakistan, saying the government would counter the practice.

(A Pakistan News)