Minority funds allocation sparks new debate
The issue of spending minority development funds in Punjab on the restoration of gurdwaras and religious tourism has sparked a new debate in the province regarding minority policy, resource distribution, and constitutional authority.
Representatives of Christian, Hindu, and Sikh communities are presenting differing viewpoints both inside and outside the Punjab Assembly, while legal experts are analyzing the matter in the context of federal and provincial powers.
The issue intensified recently when Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan questioned the performance of the Ministry of Minority Affairs and Provincial Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora. He stated that minority populations lacking basic facilities are facing severe shortages of drinking water, sanitation, and healthcare, and therefore development funds should first be spent on essential human needs.
According to PML-N minority member Baba Falbous Christopher, approximately Rs2 billion were allocated in the provincial development budget for the restoration of 17 gurdwaras, while no churches or temples were included. He argued that since the Christian community in Punjab numbers in the hundreds of thousands, there should be balance in the distribution of development funds.
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PPP Hindu member Basro Jee said that a large Hindu population resides in South Punjab, yet no significant projects have been initiated for their welfare. He also claimed that some funds allocated for the Hindu community were withdrawn.
On the other hand, Provincial Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora rejected these allegations, stating that the government is working on restoring historic religious sites, promoting interfaith harmony, and boosting religious tourism. He said that gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib, Hasan Abdal, and Lahore hold global religious importance for Sikh pilgrims, and their restoration is benefiting the local economy and tourism.
Arora further stated that the Chief Minister of Punjab has increased the budget of the Minority Affairs Department by 300 per cent over the past two years. He added that minority issues have persisted for 78 years and cannot be completely resolved in a short period. According to him, steps are also being taken to address issues such as minority graveyards.
Former Provincial Minister Aijaz Aslam Augustine said that if minority development funds are distributed across Punjab’s 10 divisions, each division receives around Rs200 million, which reduces to an average of Rs70 million per district—insufficient to address basic problems. "Every member of the Assembly should be required to allocate at least five per cent of their development funds to minority populations," implored Augustine.
Punjab Assembly minority member Mary James Gill rejected the impression that all funds are being spent only on the Sikh community. She stated that restoration of gurdwaras and events like Vaisakhi have helped promote Pakistan’s positive image and interfaith harmony.
An important aspect of this issue is constitutional in nature. Critics argue that many gurdwaras and some temples are managed by the federal Evacuee Trust Property Board, so the federal government should bear responsibility rather than using provincial development funds. However, constitutional experts say that after the 18th Amendment, sectors like culture, tourism, and local development fall under provincial jurisdiction, allowing provincial governments to spend funds on such projects through proper legal procedures.
In Punjab, the Christian community is the largest minority population. Significant minority populations also exist in districts such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Rahim Yar Khan, where local organizations have long highlighted issues related to clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and education. Some minority leaders argue that development funds should be spent on basic human needs rather than religious buildings.