Islamabad [Pakistan] December 4 (ANI) A report presented to the Parliamentary Committee on Minority Caucus revealed that out of 1,817 Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras across Pakistan, only 37 remain operational. The findings point to centuries-old places of worship deteriorating due to poor government maintenance and the declining Hindu and Sikh populations, Dawn reported.
At the caucus’s maiden session, Convener Senator Danesh Kumar pledged efforts to convert constitutional promises of minority protection into concrete actions, insisting minorities deserve the “practical implementation of constitutional guarantees.” Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani criticized the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) for neglecting temples and gurdwaras under its care and demanded that ETPB leadership be handed to a non-Muslim, arguing this would ensure sincere restoration of neglected religious properties.
The committee recommended urgent measures to safeguard these heritage sites, which reflect Pakistan’s multicultural history. MNA Kesoo Mal Kheal Das observed that many temples and gurdwaras were abandoned after the 1947 Partition when local Hindu and Sikh communities migrated to India, but urged the government to preserve the structures as cultural landmarks and open them to pilgrims domestically and internationally, Dawn reported.
The caucus also discussed education reforms, proposing removal of hate content from school curricula, scholarships for minority students, and an equivalent of the 20-mark Hifz-i-Quran quota for non-Muslim learners. Members called for increased job quotas for minorities and insisted senior bureaucrats attend future caucus meetings to ensure accountability. The committee unanimously adopted its Terms of Reference and reaffirmed its commitment to uphold Pakistan’s constitutional ideals of equality, religious harmony, and social justice, Dawn reported. (ANI)
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