The Hindu community has demanded of the government to declare a public holiday on the annual festival of Diwali.
The Pakistan Hindu Council in a statement issued on Friday said declaring a public holiday would reflect a soft image of Pakistan and would prove fruitful in promoting interfaith harmony. “It would let the Hindu community feel honoured,” said the council chief Dr Ramesh Kumar, while addressing a meeting of the council held to review the preparations for the festival across the country.
Diwali, he added, was an official holiday in more than 10 countries, including Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Singapore, Fiji and India.
"Following the footsteps of the previous government, the present government must carry on the practice of presenting a special gift to the community in the form of an economic package," said Ramesh while demanding to provide advance salaries to Hindu employees of both public and private sector.
Hindus demand public holiday on Diwali - thenews.com.pk