PESHAWAR: The representatives of various minority groups have welcomed the government decision to increase quota for them in provincial jobs from three per cent to five per cent and stressed the need that a proper mechanism should be adopted to check its misuse.

Pastor Shehzad Murad of All Saints Church Kohati told this correspondent that increase in the job quota was a longstanding demand of minorities that was considered by a previous government.

He also appreciated the efforts of Dr Sara Safdar, a former caretaker provincial minister, for resolving the problems of the religious minorities. He added that increasing the job quota was essential but its implementation in real sense would be a challenge for the government.

He said that government should also increase education quota for minorities to enable the students to get admission in professional institutions.

Mr Murad said that in the past, the religious minorities were discouraged to compete in the open merit due to quota. He said that intelligent people should be given opportunity to compete in the open merit also.

Similarly, Rajput Welfare Society general secretary Wishal Kumar appreciated the decision of the government and said that authorities should increase the admission quota in different educational institutions for religious minorities. Besides, he demanded of the government to expedite the process of enacting different pending laws, including Hindu Marriage Bill, to resolve the longstanding demands of Hindu community.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2019