Heritage sites: Caucus for ETP Board chief from minority community
ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on Minority Caucus recommended that the Chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property (ETP) Board must be a member of the minority community to ensure representation aligned with custodial responsibilities over minority heritage sites.
An introductory session of the Parliamentary Committee on Minority Caucus was held on Tuesday under the convenorship of Senator Danesh Kumar. The meeting opened with members unanimously congratulating Senator Danesh Kumar on his election as convenor. Members expressed confidence that the forum will ensure that the rights of minorities are effectively tabled, discussed, and resolved.”
In his address, Senator Danesh Kumar thanked the participants, stating, “As per the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the rights of minorities are reiterated again and again. This Caucus will work to ensure those constitutional guarantees translate into practical safeguards and policy reforms.”
Each member introduced themselves and presented their respective agendas, focusing on justice, policy revision, and equal rights for minority communities. The committee adopted a structured review of issues, highlighting urgent policy gaps and areas needing reform:
During the discussions, revision of educational policies to ensure scholarships for minority students, removal of hate speech and discriminatory content from English and Urdu curricula, and limiting religious viewpoints to the relevant religious syllabus only. It was also discussed that extension of the existing 20-mark quota for students of Hifz-e-Quran to minority students in an equivalent form may be introduced.
It was also presented to strengthen the employment quota for minorities.
The committee also stressed that senior officials, not below the rank of Additional Secretary, must attend Caucus meetings. It was discussed that all rules applicable to the Senate Standing Committee must also apply to the Minority Caucus for procedural integrity.
The committee reviewed critical data presented during the session, according to which Pakistan has 1,285 Hindu worship sites and 532 Gurdwaras. Of these, only 37 of sites are currently functional. Members emphasized the urgent need for restoration and activation of all worship sites to safeguard religious heritage and ensure equitable access for minority communities.
The Caucus adopted the TORs unanimously and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing minority rights in accordance with constitutional mandates and national values of equality, justice, and religious freedom. The convener noted that the committee’s recommendations would form the basis of a comprehensive reform agenda to be presented in upcoming sessions.
Among those who attended the meeting were Senators Poonjo Bheel, Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Mahesh Kumar Malani, and MNAs Kesoo Mal Kheal Das, Nelson Azeem, Ramesh Lal, Naveed Aamir, Mr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, and Sanjay Perwani.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025