LAHORE   -  The Political Counsellor at British High Commission Islamabad, Ms Iona Thomas, called on Punjab Minister for Law and Cooperatives Basharat Raja in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday.

They discussed issues of mutual interest between the UK and the Punjab government. Basharat Raja said on the occasion that the Punjab government was taking historical steps for the protection and development of minorities as significant increases had been made in the recent budget for churches and other worship places of minorities in Punjab.

He said that Punjab government was ensuring implementation of all the points of FATF and had successfully handled high profile cases of terrorism by implementing federal policies against extremism and sectarianism to the maximum. Raja Basharat further said that the Punjab Assembly under the leadership of Chief Minister Usman Bazdar had enacted record legislation while centuries old laws were being updated as per the existing requirements. He said that the orders of the Supreme Court regarding local government would be followed. The law minister said that successful measures had been taken against the coronavirus pandemic in Punjab and the process of vaccination was also going on successfully.

Ms Iona Thomas praised Pakistan’s efforts for FATF and said that the UK had pledged it’s full support to Pakistan in that regard. She paid homage to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and said that he always emphasised the rights of minorities. Referring to the Hunza Valley, Ms Thomas said that Pakistan was rich in natural beauty and resources. She assured that the UK would continue cooperating with Punjab against disease, illiteracy, terrorism, poverty alleviation and Covid-19.