Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced an exemption for the Sikh community from the motorcycle helmet law and approved an increase in the number of minority cards from 75,000 to 100,000.
Speaking at a Christmas ceremony, the chief minister said the government exempted Sikh riders from wearing helmets because of the religious requirement to wear turbans, which makes helmet use difficult.
She said Punjab stands committed to protecting minorities and described their safety as a key measure of the government’s success.
Maryam Nawaz said the state would respond firmly to any attempt to harm minorities or deprive them of their rights. She added that making Punjab minority-friendly should be a shared goal for all citizens, noting that the responsibility is greater for the majority community.
Addressing the Christian community, the chief minister extended Christmas greetings and announced the expansion of the minority card program to benefit more families.
She said the province marked Christmas by decorating cities, displaying festive messages, and installing large Christmas decorations, including a Christmas tree and Santa Claus display at Liberty Chowk.
