The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has formally handed over four kanals of land in Dera Ismail Khan for the establishment of cremation grounds for Hindu and Sikh communities as part of efforts to promote minority welfare and religious freedom.
KP Govt allocates land for Hindu, Sikh cremation grounds in DI Khan
PESHAWAR, Jul 01 (APP): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has formally handed over four kanals of land in Dera Ismail Khan for the establishment of cremation grounds for Hindu and Sikh communities as part of efforts to promote minority welfare and religious freedom.
Provincial Minister for Religious Affairs Sahibzada Muhammad Adnan Qadri, speaking at the land transfer ceremony, announced that two kanals had been allocated for the Hindu community and two kanals for the Sikh community.
He said protection of religious freedom and minority rights remained a top priority of the provincial government, adding that minorities are an equal and respected part of society.
He stated that the government was taking practical steps to promote justice, equality and religious harmony in line with the principles of the State of Madina.
The minister said millions of rupees were being spent across the province on minority places of worship, religious festivals and welfare initiatives.
He added that educational scholarships for minority students and financial assistance for widows, orphans and persons with disabilities were also continuing.
He further informed that a Rs 200 million endowment fund had been established for the rehabilitation of minority communities affected by terrorism, while a separate Rs 100 million fund had been allocated for the development of the Kalash community.
According to the minister, work was also underway on the provision of land for minority graveyards, cremation facilities and places of worship, along with solarization and rehabilitation projects.
He said provincial and district-level interfaith harmony committees were actively working to strengthen social cohesion and that further measures would be introduced to safeguard the social, educational, economic and religious rights of minorities.
Representatives of the Hindu and Sikh communities termed the initiative historic and welcomed it as an important step toward strengthening minority rights in the province.
