Islamabad: October 17, 2014. (PCP) Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Hindu Council Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, MNA (PML-N) has said that announcement of a Public Holiday to mark the religious Hindu festival 'Deewali' would not only project the soft image of Pakistan on international level but also let the Hindu community to feel confident and honored with such initiative. He was addressing a meeting of the council to review the preparations for the celebrations of upcoming Deewali festival across the country. "Creating the public holiday on Deewali would be a significant step for promoting the interfaith harmony and religious tolerance of different faiths". Said Dr. Ramesh Kumar, adding that Deewali is an official holiday in more than ten countries including Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Singapore, Fiji and India. "Following the footsteps of previous regime, present government must carry on the practice to present special gift to the Hindu community in form of Economic Package." Dr. Ramesh emphasized, while demanding to provide advance salaries to Hindu employees, of both public and private sector, to acknowledge their contributions. "Pakistan Hindu Council wants other nations to look to Pakistan for a good example of positive integration, where different classes of highly-qualified and well-educated minorities are serving the homeland with a sense that their faith is a respected part of their identity." He concluded. On the occasion, he was also briefed about the ongoing arrangements by the Pakistan Hindu Council for the mass wedding ceremony of hundreds of poor deserving Hindu couples, to be scheduled on 22nd of November.