(UCAN): Pakistan’s minority leaders criticised the government for not allocating funds in the national budget for the welfare of their communities and termed it a blow to their development.
Last year , the budget allocated 100 million rupees [US$359,200] for the welfare of religious minority communities, but that allocation disappeared this year.
The 18.87 trillion rupee [S$68 billion] national budget for the fiscal year 2024 to 2025, was presented by federal finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, on June 12.
The budget allocated 1,86 billion rupees [US$6.68 million] for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, which includes funding for Hajj pilgrims to Islamic holy sites in Mecca— higher than the previous year’s 1,780 million rupees.
There was no explanation for the failure to allocate funds for minority welfare—mainly for student scholarships and support during religious festivals and officials at the Federal Finance Ministry did not respond when contacted for comments.
Ejaz Alam Augustine, former minister for human rights and minority affairs of the Punjab provincial government, said that the lack of a welfare budget spells bad news for minority students and the community.
“The fund was scarce from the beginning. Now, the fund has completely vanished, just like the minorities’ ministry at the federal level. Our students will suffer. They need government support,” he explained.
The fund was scarce from the beginning. Now, the fund has completely vanished, just like the minorities’ ministry at the federal level. Our students will suffer. They need government support
Ejaz Alam Augustine
A Sikh educationist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the new coalition government of Pakistan of Muslim League and Pakistan People’s Party offered him no hope.
“I have never observed any scheme specific for the Sikh community. If any fund is announced, it will benefit larger communities like Christians in Punjab and Hindus in Sindh,” he said.
Amir Mahmood, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ahmadiyya community, said they “do not consider ourselves minorities.”
However, the state policies “equally affect us,” he said.
Ahmadiyya Muslim sect is considered heretical by Sunni Muslim hardliners. In 1974, under pressure from hardliners, Pakistan constitutionally declared them non-Muslims.
Chaman Lal, chairperson of Samaj Sewa Foundation Pakistan, a Hindu welfare group, sees “a bleak future” for religious minorities.
“Cash transfer and small development schemes for minorities have decreased while attacks on vulnerable communities have increased. They just don’t care for us. They bow to religious extremist groups, but they can at least try for the socio-economic empowerment of the minorities,” he said.
“The budget cut also poses a serious question about the performance of minority representatives” in the provincial legislative houses, he said
The Federal Ministry for Minorities was established in November 2008.
Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic, was appointed minister but was assassinated in March 2011. That same year, the ministry was replaced by the Ministry for National Harmony and Minorities Affairs.
On returning to power in 2013, the Pakistan Muslim League merged the Ministry for National Harmony and Minorities Affairs into a larger ministry, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
