The pressing issue that continues to plague our society- religious extremism and its devastating impact on minority communities, particularly in the workplace is annoyingly common in Pakistan. Despite their equal rights to fair employment, minorities in Pakistan often find themselves forced to work harder for the same wages, while many jobs remain out of reach due to systematic bias. This ongoing discrimination deepens social divides, hinders economic processes, and weakens us as a nation. Furthermore, such discrimination goes against Islamic principles as Islam itself upholds justice, equality, and respect for all faiths.
As the Quran states in surah AL Isra:
“Everyone’s God-given human dignity must be respected regardless of his or her faith, race, ethnic origin, gender or social status”.
This verse makes it clear that Muslims are duty-bound to treat all people fairly, regardless of their religion. By discriminating against Pakistani minorities, we are not only denying them their fundamental rights but also going against the very moral values that Islam teaches us. Yet, despite these principles the Pakistani government reserves only 5% of government jobs for minorities, limiting their opportunities to earn an honest and respectable living. This unfair quota forces them to work much harder than their Muslim counterparts to secure positions.
If Pakistan truly seeks justice and progress, we must ensure equal opportunities for all citizens. In Islam, all is valued equally in the eyes of Allah (swt), and denying minorities fair employment goes against both, religious teachings and social justice. Only through fairness and inclusivity can we build a stronger, more united nation!
Zuraiz Zulfiqar
