Peshawar, 16 February 2023 (GNP): The Cabinet meeting, chaired by the Caretaker Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Azam Khan, has approved the transfer of land for the construction of Shamshan Ghat for the Hindu and Sikh communities in Peshawar and Nowshehra.
The designated place for the cremation of the deceased will cover 18830 square yards of land, with the transfer approved by the Cabinet to the Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department. The department will also receive about 3,030 square yards of land for the construction of Christian cemeteries in Kohat.
The transfer of land is part of the government’s efforts to facilitate religious practices and promote interfaith harmony and tolerance. The Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department will manage and administer the religious properties and endowments belonging to various communities in the province, ensuring their proper maintenance and development.
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The move has been welcomed by representatives of the Hindu, Sikh, and Christian communities, who have expressed their gratitude to the government for providing them with dedicated spaces to perform their religious rites and rituals. The transfer of land is expected to help the communities in fulfilling their religious obligations and strengthen their ties with the wider community.
The previous Government of Tehrek-e-insaf also took several measures to promote the rights and welfare of minorities in the province.
In 2019, the government launched a program to issue interest-free loans to small businesses run by religious minorities. The program was aimed at promoting economic empowerment and poverty reduction among minorities.
In order t0 provide better educational opportunities to minority students the government announced the provision of scholarships in 2020, to minority students for higher education and also established a Minority Rights Commission to address the issues and concerns of minorities in the province.
