LAHORE:The Youth Development Foundation (YDF) and the Parliamentary Minority Caucus (PMC) in Punjab Assembly have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance inclusive governance, promote interfaith harmony, and strengthen the protection of minority rights across Punjab.
The Parliamentary Minority Caucus, chaired by MPA Falbous Christopher, is a cross-party parliamentary body committed to safeguarding the constitutional rights of religious minorities and ensuring effective implementation of minority-related policies.
The MoU establishes a structured framework for policy dialogue, joint advocacy initiatives, and capacity-building of minority parliamentarians, while creating stronger engagement between Minority Civic Agents and the provincial legislature.
Under this partnership, YDF will provide technical support, community-level evidence, and policy recommendations generated through its Minority Civic Agents Programme (MCAP). The Caucus will offer a formal legislative platform to review community concerns and facilitate coordination with relevant parliamentary committees and provincial departments to ensure responsive governance across Punjab.
Member of Punjab Assembly Falbous Christopher, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Minority Caucus, stated, “This partnership reinforces our commitment to protecting constitutional rights and promoting interfaith harmony across Punjab. Through structured collaboration, we aim to ensure that minority voices are effectively reflected in legislative processes.”
Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu, the only Christian Senator in Pakistan, remarked, “Strengthening institutional mechanisms for minority inclusion is essential for Pakistan’s democratic progress. This collaboration between the Caucus and civil society represents a constructive step toward policy reform, social cohesion, and meaningful representation of minority communities within governance structures.”
Shahid Rehmat, Executive Director of YDF, said, “This MoU marks a transition from dialogue to institutional engagement. Through evidence-based advocacy and structured capacity-building, we seek to support the Caucus in advancing equitable and responsive policy reforms across Punjab.”
Madam Rahila Khadim Hussain, Minority Chief Organizer Punjab, added, “This initiative will enhance coordination between parliamentarians and minority communities, empowering grassroots leaders and strengthening policy engagement to address key challenges faced by minorities in Punjab.” The collaboration will remain non-political and non-partisan, guided by principles of transparency, mutual respect, and inclusive democratic development across Punjab.
