LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora on Thursday briefed Netherlands Ambassador Robert Jan Siegert about the Punjab government’s initiatives for the welfare and protection of minorities, seeking greater international cooperation in the sector.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the ambassador met with Mr. Arora in Lahore, accompanied by First Secretary Political Affairs Jorin van den Heuvel and Secretary Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Dr Usman Ali Khan. The discussions focused on efforts led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for the socioeconomic development of minority communities in Punjab.

During the meeting, Mr. Arora highlighted the government’s progress on establishing a National Commission for Minority Rights and efforts toward a provincial Minority Rights Commission. These institutions aim to strengthen mechanisms for safeguarding minority rights. Initiatives discussed included ambassador programs, capacity-building efforts, and e-learning projects designed to improve access to training and education for minority groups.

The conversation also touched on religious tourism and the preservation of minority places of worship. Mr. Arora informed the ambassador about government measures for the protection and development of significant religious sites. Ambassador Siegert expressed appreciation for these initiatives and assured support from the Netherlands in promoting religious tourism and other areas of mutual interest.

Both parties agreed to enhance international cooperation, focusing on the protection of minority rights, capacity-building, and modern training programs, with plans to explore opportunities for joint initiatives.