CRIMA organized a Roundtable Discussion on ‘Gender Equality and Minority Rights SDG 5.’ The guest speaker was Mr Prashant Singh, Assistant Registrar at the University of the Punjab, and the first Sikh officer to serve at Pakistan's largest educational institution since the end of the British Empire. He also contributes to the Religious Education Curriculum Committee and writes Sikhism textbooks under the Single National Curriculum. He highlighted the gap between Pakistan's human rights obligations and the realities faced by minorities. He reflected on Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's vision of equality and justice, noting that it remains

unfulfilled, especially for minorities. Singh discussed historical milestones like the Objectives Resolution of 1949 and the negative impact of Zia-ul-Haq’s Hudood Ordinances, which disenfranchised minorities and curtailed women's rights. He also addressed contemporary issues, and the women’s struggles in inter-caste marriages. A question-and-answer session followed the main discussion, offering participants an opportunity to ask their specific concerns and propose potential solutions. This interactive segment provided valuable insights and fostered a dynamic exchange of ideas. The session offered a critical and reflective analysis of the ongoing challenges faced by minorities and women in Pakistan