ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Ramesh Singh Arora was this week appointed minority lawmaker for Punjab province, turning into the primary Sikh to be appointed as a minister in Pakistan.
Arora, a three-time Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) from Narowal, on Wednesday joined the cupboard of lately sworn-in Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaf Sharif and was appointed provincial minister for ethnic minorities.
Born in Nakana Sahib in 1974, Mr. Arora holds a postgraduate diploma in entrepreneurship and small enterprise administration from Government College University and labored within the World Bank’s Poverty Reduction Program in Pakistan earlier than coming into politics. was engaged. In 2008 she based Mojaz Foundation, the place she works to uplift the underprivileged and poor individuals of Pakistan. He was additionally lately elected because the Chairman of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).
“For the primary time since partition, [1947] A Sikh has been inducted into the Punjab cupboard,” Arora stated in an interview with The Indian Express.
“I’ll work for the security and well-being of not solely Sikhs however all minorities dwelling in Pakistan, together with Hindus and Christians.”
Explaining his plans as Minister for Minorities, he stated:
“I’ve some plans for the welfare of the ethnic minorities in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab. Although the Sikh Marriage Act has been handed right here, it’s but to be carried out. I’ll make it a actuality. We may even introduce a brand new interfaith concord coverage to make sure that all minorities, together with Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and so on., really feel protected and safe. We will be certain that the two % quota for ethnic college students is carried out actually and in spirit.”
Arora stated her household didn’t transfer to India after Partition and selected to stay in Pakistan.
“I used to be born in Nankana Sahib however later moved to Narowal. My grandfather, on the urging of a pricey buddy, selected to stay in Pakistan throughout Partition,” the minister stated. . “He selected to remain right here only for the sake of friendship.”
In the February 8 election, Mr. Arora was re-elected as MPA from his hometown of Narowal, which is residence to Gurudwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib, the ultimate resting place of Guru Nanak, the founding father of Sikhism. Last yr, he was additionally appointed because the ‘Grand Ambassador’ of the Kartarpur Corridor.
Arora stated greater than 4 years have handed because the Kartarpur Corridor was opened in November 2019 to permit pilgrims from India to entry Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib and not using a visa. However, he stated it was unlucky that the response was “sluggish.”
“We will take all doable steps to encourage extra individuals from India to go to Kartarpur by way of the hall,” he stated.