Pakistan: Only 37 out of 1817 Hindu temples, Sikh Gurudwaras operational

Gurdwara Dehra Sahib in Lahore, Pakistan. FILE PIC/ISTOCK

A recent report presented before the Parliamentary Committee on Minority Caucus has revealed that out of 1817 Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras across Pakistan, only 37 remain operational.

The data highlights a grim reality: centuries-old places of worship are worsening due to poor government maintenance and the dwindling population of Hindu and Sikh communities, as reported by Dawn.

Local activists have strongly criticised the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) for its failure to care for temples and gurdwaras that fall under its jurisdiction and demanded that the ETPB's leadership be handed over to a non-Muslim, arguing that only then could the restoration of neglected religious properties be handled with sincerity.

They also recommended urgent steps to protect these heritage sites, which represent not only religious significance but also Pakistan's multicultural past. Most of the temples and gurdwaras were abandoned after 1947.

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