ISLAMABAD:
If the share of a religious minority in employment in the federal government can be taken as a measure of its social status, Pakistan’s non-Muslims are not doing too well.
Out of the 449,964 federal government employees, only 2.6 per cent or 11,521 are non-Muslims, according to the Annual Statistical Bulletin of Federal Government Employees 2010-11.
That is even less than the percentage of non-Muslims in the population. According to the 1998 census, the last time a census was held in the country, no-Muslims made up 3.7 per cent of the country’s population.
Christians, also Pakistan’s largest non-Muslim community, constituted 87.2 per cent of the non-Muslim federal government employees in 2010-11. Around 70 per cent of the 11,521 non-Muslim federal government employees belong to the lowest cadre: grades 1 and 2. The majority of them are Christians with Punjab and Islamabad domiciles, who work in the sanitation departments of federal ministries and divisions.
There were no non-Muslims in grade 22 and only three grade 21 officers, all of whom were from Sindh, in 2010-11.
The breakup of the non-Muslims in the federal government for 2010-11 is 10,053 Christians, 219 Ahmedis, 981 caste Hindus, 239 non-caste Hindus, two Parsis, one Buddhist and 26 employees belonged to other faiths.
Out of the 10,053 Christians, only 151 served in grades 17 to 22 during 2010-11, followed by 79 caste Hindus. At 87 per cent, a vast majority of the Hindus employed in the federal government are from Sindh.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (19)
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@Salman
Jobs are available for educated and trained ones, not on the basis of knowledge of prayer.
@Vikas
if you mean that muslims are dumber/talentless, that may be your bias opinion. But the other way to look at it is systematic discrimination of Muslims in different fields. Muslims in India are less facilitated and kept under-performed. i am an Indian BTW
Always surprised why Pakistanis or frankly non-Pakistanis don't ask the obvious question - what happened to Hindus as a percent of population in Pakistan? and what does that tell you?
All non-muslims are minority in the Islamic Republic Of Pakistan. Minority population has always been increasing in Pakistan. In the last few years it increased several folds with the inclusion of Shias in the group. Recently, some Sunnis have also been honored by including them in the group for which they even gave their heads. Wellbeing of Ahmedis are frequently checked even in their final resting place.
Sanitary workers in Lahore city are not only Christians. I think one third are muslims. Ask Senator Kamran Micheal what he did for his community?
@Salman: @Indians please keep quite because your country is even worse. 15 percent Muslims only got 4 percent jobs
Atleast Muslims are living and increasing in numbers in India whereas in your land of the pure (such an irony) minority population is dwindling to appalling figures. Put a sock in it will ya, please!!
@All others: TRUE FACT- Christians in Punjab (Pakistan) arent allowed more than 179 days of job / work at the sanitation department! Know why? Cause as per the rules and regulations if they work more than a 180 days per calendar year they are entitled to get FULL TIME jobs! Since they are Children of a 'Lesser God' (non Muslims) they are cut short on the179th day itself.
@RKM: Go tell that to the Brahmin asking his daughter or sons hand for marriage or ask the Dalit to please pass your file at the local sales tax office in Delhi... the caste card plays a huge role, and it will still play long after you're gone!
Kudos to ET. At-least they publish this report.
Sachchar committee has been talked about a lot. Infact, for the last 7 years it's been quoted innumerable no. Of times to convey the deplorable condition of muslims in India. Let's see for how long would this report be talked about.
@Salman: In India, you get job based on merit and not on being Muslim.
And u have the gumption to talk about muslim's status in India and Sachar committee report.
@Uzair: Likewise I can say the majority sanitation workers in india are MUSLIMS. Pls provide source.
Even the majority community is not getting any jobs without those who offer kickbacks or have reference, the problem is across the board. Let IK come things will be get better.
@Indians please keep quite because your country is even worse. 15 percent Muslims only got 4 percent jobs.
So what, christians are free to do whatever they feel like. Educated christians are seen serving in the Military, Navy, Government offices, corporate businesses. Likewise I can say the majority sanitation workers in india are MUSLIMS. ET wont put any light on that.
What do you mean by caste-Hindu and non-caste Hindu? I am a Hindu, and there is no such thing practised amongst us which divides us. We are one, and only one, i.e. Hindus. Please correct that next time when you write.
But still Pakistan cares all about Shahrukh allegedly being not well treated in India
Its no use talking about issues its about doing something to change.
The title is slightly incomplete. Reading these numbers, 2.6% of Federal Government Employees are "minorities", and roughly 0.2%, are Hindus, while more than 2% are Christians. (This despite the fact that Pakistan has a roughly equal Hindu and Christian population) So Hindus, about 1.7% of Pakistan's population, are represented in terms of their population at a roughly 1 is to 10 ratio. They get the worst deal of all. Even Ahmedis get a better deal than Hindus in proportion to their population.