The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), in collobration with Mustehkam Parlimaan (MuP) and – European Union funded project -, organized a consultative session titled “Validation of the Minority Rights Action Plan for the Minority Cacus of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab” on Tuesday 18th November, 2025, at Avari Hotel Lahore. The session brought legislators, minority representatives, parliamentary experts, and development partners under one roof to review and finalize a practical plan for strengthening the rights and inclusion of minority communities in the Punjab.
The Session began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Mr. Taj Muhammad, Director (PDP), PIPS moderated the event. He briefly explained the purpose of the event and set the direction for the discussions ahead. Afterwards, Ms. Mary Cummins, Team Lead, IP5, delivered the opening remarks, sharing the goals of the consultation and reminding everyone why joint efforts are essential for promoting minority rights.
This was followed by welcome remarks from Ms. Brekhna Ajmal, Program Manager for Parliaments & Gender Equality at the EU Delegation. She reaffirmed the EU’s continued support for inclusive governance and protection of human rights in Pakistan.
Ms. Rahila Khadim Hussain, Member Minority Caucus & Organizer Minority Wing PML(N), and Mr. Falbous Christopher, Convener, Minority Caucus, Provincial Assembly of the Punjab shared keynote reflections. They spoke about the challenges minority communities still face and called for stronger, more responsive institutions.
This event was in continuation of the two-day workshop with the Minority Cacus in September, 2025. The main part of the program included a detailed presentation of the draft Minority Rights Action Plan by Mr. Ali Imran, Key Expert Legislative & Parliamentary Affairs, MuP. Participants actively engaged in the discussion, giving feedback and strengthening the recommendations. The conversation focused on key areas such as legal reforms, social inclusion, better coordination among institutions, and clear implementation strategies.
A practical roadmap was also discussed, outlining how the Action Plan can be implemented in the short, medium, and long term by the Punjab Assembly and relevant government departments.
The session ended on a positive note, with participants expressing a shared commitment to promoting equality, dignity, and protection for all minority communities in Punjab.