Summary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government allocated four kanals of land for Hindu and Sikh cremation grounds, reaffirming its commitment to religious freedom and minority rights.
PESHAWAR (Web Desk) – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has allocated four kanals of land in Dera Ismail Khan for cremation grounds to serve the Hindu and Sikh communities, describing the move as part of its commitment to protecting minority rights and promoting religious freedom.
According to the spokesperson for the provincial Ministry of Auqaf, Hajj, Religious and Minority Affairs, Provincial Minister Sahibzada Muhammad Adnan Qadri formally handed over two kanals of land to the Hindu community and two kanals to the Sikh community.
Speaking at the ceremony, the minister said safeguarding religious freedom and protecting the rights of minorities remained a top priority for the provincial government. He added that minority communities are respected citizens who enjoy equal rights under the law.
Qadri said the government is taking practical steps to promote justice, equality, and interfaith harmony in line with its stated policy objectives.
He also highlighted ongoing welfare initiatives for minority communities, saying millions of rupees are being spent on places of worship, religious festivals, and community development projects. The government is also providing educational scholarships for minority students and financial assistance to widows, orphans, and persons with disabilities from minority communities.
The minister said a Rs200 million endowment fund has been established to support minority communities affected by terrorism, while a separate Rs100 million fund has been allocated for the development of the Kalash community.
He added that the provincial government is continuing work on providing land for minority cemeteries and cremation grounds, restoring and solarising places of worship, and strengthening interfaith harmony through active provincial and district-level committees.
Representatives of the Hindu and Sikh communities welcomed the initiative, describing it as a historic step and expressing appreciation to the provincial government for addressing a longstanding community need.
