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Karachi, August 04, 2025:Federal Secretary for Human Rights, Mr. Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, chaired a high-level coordination meeting in Karachi today to assess the progress of human rights initiatives across Sindh and called for immediate action to strengthen cooperation between federal and provincial stakeholders.
The meeting, attended by Sindh Human Rights Secretary Mr. Khalid Chachar, Chairperson of the Sindh Human Rights Commission Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Detho, representatives from the Home Department, and other key officials, focused on district-level implementation, women’s rights, interfaith harmony, and the protection of transgender persons.
Mr. Sheikh emphasized the urgency of notifying District Human Rights Committees in all remaining districts of Sindh, noting that such bodies are critical for grassroots monitoring and redressal. In response, the provincial secretary informed that District Peace Committees are already functional in Umerkot, Hyderabad, and Sukkur.
“It is imperative that all provinces hold regular meetings of their Provincial Task Forces on Human Rights,” said Mr. Sheikh. “These meetings must not only be held consistently but their outcomes must be shared with the Federal Ministry to ensure cohesive national progress.”
Addressing women’s rights, he recalled a recent decision from the 8th National Task Force meeting, chaired by Federal Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar and Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan. He urged provinces to appoint Chairpersons and Members for their respective Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women within 30 days.
On interfaith harmony, Mr. Sheikh stressed full implementation of Pakistan’s Interfaith Harmony Policy and the Strategy of Religious Tolerance. “We must act with urgency on the list of tasks assigned to our Ministry, provincial departments, and the National Commission for Minorities,” he stated.
Highlighting the rights of transgender individuals, Mr. Sheikh pressed for progress under the Transgender Persons Act, urging provinces to report initiatives taken and results achieved. “We expect meaningful progress during this year,” he added.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous commitment to advancing human rights through institutional coordination, timely action, and sustained policy reform, aiming to build a more inclusive and rights-respecting society across Pakistan.
