PM Sharif stresses need for diversity, inclusion as Hindus celebrate Holi in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday stressed the importance of diversity and inclusion to build a stronger nation as he wished Hindus celebrating Holi in Pakistan.
The Hindu festival, which heralds the start of spring, is observed at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month.
There are more than 5 million Hindus in Pakistan who have often complained of discrimination, blasphemy accusations, abduction and forced conversions.
Pakistani authorities, striving to improve the country’s image regarding religious tolerance, have repeatedly asserted the state’s commitment to diversity and equal rights for all citizens.
“I extend my heartfelt greetings to our Hindu community in Pakistan on the joyous occasion of Holi. The vibrant energy that surrounds this festivity mark the arrival of spring, symbolizing love and the triumph of good over evil,” Sharif said on X.
“While celebrating new beginnings, renewal, and the strengthening of relationships, this occasion also highlights the importance of diversity and the power of inclusion in building a stronger, more unified nation.”
Hindu men, women and children celebrate the festival by spraying colored powder solutions into the air through water guns and water-filled balloons and smearing it on each other. The devotees serve visitors with delicacies such as gujia, shakkarpaare, matri and dahi-bade as well as desserts and drinks.
People also gather around a lit bonfire and perform various rituals on the eve of Holi, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and removal of the old and the arrival of the new.
In Pakistan, major Holi festivities are witnessed in Tharparkar, Karachi and a number of other cities.
“May this festival of colors fill your lives with happiness, health success, and prosperity,” Sharif said on X. “Happy Holi!”