Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz feels lack of inter-faith and inter-cultural understanding is a major challenge for the world and urged people belonging to different faiths to work harder for promoting inter-faith harmony to make the world a better place to live. Talking to a Christian delegation from USA, UK & Netherlands, here Saturday, he said minorities in Pakistan are free to practice their faith. "The government is taking all necessary steps to ensure people belonging to different faiths continue to live in peace, harmony and freely practice their religious beliefs," he was quoted as saying by Pakistan Press International (PPI). Emphasizing need for interfaith dialogue to promote better understanding among people of various faiths, he said Islam teaches peace, tolerance, brotherhood and respect for all religions. The Prime Minister said it is for first time in the country's history that minorities have been given dual right to vote which allows them to vote for general seats as well as for seats reserved for them in elections. The establishment of Minorities Affairs Division, appointing a minority member of parliament as its Minister of State, increased representation of ten minority members in parliament are some of steps taken to increase participation of minorities in decision making process. ``We are all Pakistanis and for the country to progress it is necessary that minorities continue to play important role in various walks of national life. Many members of minorities are joining armed forces and other government organizations.''
