Only 37 out of 1,817 Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras remain operational in Pakistan. A report presented before the Parliamentary Committee on Minority Caucus revealed this grim reality, highlighting centuries of neglect, poor government maintenance, and the dwindling Hindu and Sikh population. The data exposes the systematic erasure of minority religious heritage in Pakistan, where constitutional promises remain hollow words.
Senator Danesh Kumar, convener of the caucus, pledged to turn constitutional guarantees of minority protection into tangible actions. Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani strongly criticized the Evacuee Trust Property Board for failing to care for temples and gurdwaras under its jurisdiction. He demanded that ETPB leadership be handed over to a non-Muslim, arguing that only then could restoration be handled with sincerity. MNA Kesoo Mal Kheal Das noted that most structures were abandoned after the 1947 Partition when Hindu and Sikh communities migrated to India, but insisted the government must preserve them as cultural landmarks.
The caucus discussed reforms including removal of hate content from school curricula, scholarships for minority students, equivalent quotas for non-Muslim learners matching the 20-mark Hifz-i-Quran quota, and increased job quotas for minorities. Members demanded senior bureaucrats attend future meetings to ensure accountability. The committee adopted its Terms of Reference and reaffirmed its resolve to uphold Pakistan’s constitutional ideals of equality and religious harmony, principles that remain unenforced.
