Minister: Govt takes measures to promote interfaith harmony

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf Tuesday said the present government had taken a series of steps to promote interfaith harmony in the country.

Speaking on a resolution moved by the MNA Belum Hasnain, the Minister said festivals of minorities including that of Holi and Easter were also marked at the official level to promote religious harmony and ensure peaceful coexistence.

Meanwhile, responding to a call attention notice moved by Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister of State for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal told the House that government has allocated 1001 billion rupees this year for provision of loans to the farmers.

He said the loans are disbursed on the basis of cultivable land, recovery rate and credit requirements of the provinces.

He rejected the impression that there was disparity in disbursement of farm loans between Punjab and the rest of the country.

He pointed out that as compared to Punjab’s 41.23 percent, the loan disbursement growth in Sindh stood at 60.39 percent, Balochistan 62 percent, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 43 percent during the first six months of current fiscal year.