Faisalabad: Professor Anjum James Paul Chairman of Pakistan Minority Teachers Association PMTA urges Mr. Mohammad Sarwar, Governor of Punjab, to ensure 2% quota for minority students in higher education under government institutes.

In a letter dated September 4, 2020, Professor Paul submitted rules of government in which this quota is allocated but not implemented.

Herewith is an Open Letter written to Governor of Punjab:

Mr. Ch. Mohammad Sarwar

Governor Punjab

Lahore

Subject: -      REQUEST TO ENSURE 2 % RESERVED MINORITY SEATS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTES

Your Excellency,

Greetings and peace from Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA).

PMTA would like to draw your kind attention on the subject cited above.

Sir, Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association is highly thankful to the government of the Punjab that has approved 2% minority seats in the Public Sector Higher Education Institutes.

The 2 % minority seats have been reserved in the notification No.PA/AS (LM)/MISC/2020, dated 18th May 2020 for religious minorities under the Punjab Minorities Empowerment Package along with directions to ensure merit lists for minority candidates, under Rules 28(15) & 30 to the Punjab Government Rules of Business, 2011.

Sir, these seats have been reserved for the first time in the Public Sector Higher Education Institutes in Punjab, so it is requested you to kindly direct all the Public Sector Higher Education Institutes to ensure to implement the said notification with letter and spirit and mention the said reserved seats in the advertisements as well.

PROF. ANJUM JAMES PAUL

CHAIRMAN

Copy to:

Minister for Higher Education, Government of the Punjab, Lahore

Minister for Human Rights & Minorities Affairs, Government of the Punjab, Lahore

PMTA is making efforts since 2004 for education reforms through advocacy, lobbying and analyses on the textbooks of Pakistan to promote diversity and peaceful coexistence through the Pakistani education system.. Pakistani religious minorities are not enjoying fully constitutionally their civil and political rights and they are  facing challenges of equal citizenship, equal rights and equal opportunities. Due to religious persecution lives, beliefs, families and properties of religious minorities are always at risk. Pakistani public sector education system  promotes violence, intolerance, hatred and extremism through the language and images of the textbooks against non-Islamic religions, non-Muslims  and non-Islamic Civilizations. Thus Pakistani religious minorities become the direct target of the intolerance and extremism that Pakistani education system promotes.