Karachi: The Sindh government has set aside PKR 1,100 million in its existing annual budget to repair the worship structures of religious minorities within the province, according to news sources.
The news was announced in a press briefing on Thursday by Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, after he met with the Supreme Court (SC)-appointed one-man commission at his office. The meeting aimed to review the steps taken by the provincial government to protect the rights and interests of religious minorities residing within the province. The commission was headed by Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle.
The chief secretary informed the meeting that the government had been operating a separate department to safeguard the rights of religious minorities within the province for quite some time. He revealed that the government had already issued instructions to offer advance salaries to employees belonging to the Hindu faith, in light of their upcoming Diwali festivities.
The Secretary Minorities Affairs told the meeting that the evacuee trust property board hasn’t yet been devolved to the Sindh government, even after the approval of the 18th Constitutional Amendment. He said that this was creating problems for minorities regarding their rights on property ownership.
Member National Assembly and Hindu Community Leader Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said on the occasion that over 79% of the issues affecting religious minorities have been resolved. Dr Suddle said that he would submit a detailed report on encroachments owned by minorities in the province to the SC. He asked for divisional commissioners (DCs) to submit reports to him in this regard within one week.
Additionally, the meeting also took into account the illegal occupation of properties and worship places.
Hazafa reveres the art of writing and has been turned into a property enthusiast by profession. Her daily survival kit includes; tea, coffee, keyboard and paperbacks.
