The Pakistani government has allocated 10 million (one crore) Pakistani rupees to rebuild the Baoli Sahib Hindu temple in Zafarwal, Punjab province, Pakistan, marking a major step towards religious inclusivity.
The temple has not been used for 64 years, and this is the first attempt to restore it.
With official estimates of about 7.5 million, Hindus are the largest minority group in Pakistan; however, community leaders think that number may be as high as 9 million. The majority live in the province of Sindh and have close cultural ties to their Muslim neighbors.
Advocacy for restoration
For the past 20 years, the Pak Dharamsthan Committee has advocated for the temple’s revival. The temple will be handed over to the committee after construction is finished, including the setting up of a boundary wall on the four-kanal area as per the PTI report.
Sawan Chand, president of the Pak Dharamsthan Committee, expressed optimism, stating that this restoration will meet a long-standing demand of the Hindu community, enabling them to conduct their religious rituals on site.
On the project, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which is in charge of minority worship locations, has started working. In order to serve the more than 1,453 Hindu residents of Narowal, the Baoli Sahib temple, which has not been in use since 1960, will now be restored.
backing from important individuals
This initiative has been advanced by notable individuals like Manzoor Masih from the National Commission of Human Rights and Shoaib Siddal, the chairman of the Supreme Court’s One Man Commission. As the nation moves closer to greater inclusivity, the restoration of the Baoli Sahib temple is expected to give the Hindu community in Narowal a much-needed venue for their religious rituals.
Get the latest news updates and stay informed with FELA NEWS!
Source: Wion
