Pakistan: Hindu Temple In Punjab Set For Reconstruction After 64 Years, Govt Allocates PKR 1 Crore Budget

Pakistan has allocated funds for the reconstruction of the Baoli Sahib temple in Narowal, marking the first phase of restoration after 64 years of disuse.

Pakistan has allocated a budget of Pakistani Rs 10 million (PKR 1 crore) for the reconstruction of the Baoli Sahib temple in Zafarwal town of Narowal, Punjab province, marking the first phase of restoration after 64 years of disuse. This initiative is being overseen by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), the federal body responsible for managing minority worship places in Pakistan, Dawn News reported on Monday.

The Baoli Sahib temple, located in Narowal—a city on the western bank of the river Ravi—became non-functional in 1960 after coming under the ETPB's control. The absence of a functioning temple in Narowal district has forced the Hindu community, numbering over 1,453, to perform their religious rituals at home or travel to temples in Sialkot and Lahore.

'Hindu Community Lacks Dedicated Place For Worship': Ex-President Of Pakistan Dharamsthan Committee

Ratan Lal Arya, former president of the Pak Dharamsthan Committee, highlighted the impact of the ETPB's control over the temple, which led to its non-functional status. "The Hindu community lacked a dedicated place for worship," Arya said, adding that the district once had 45 Hindu temples after the establishment of Pakistan, but all have since fallen into disrepair, as per Dawn's report. He further noted that for the past 20 years, the Pak Dharamsthan Committee has been advocating for the restoration of the Baoli Sahib temple.

The current reconstruction is being carried out on four kanals of land, with the initial focus on building a boundary wall. The temple will be handed over to the Pak Dharamsthan Committee upon completion, addressing the community's long-standing demand. Sawan Chand, president of the Pak Dharamsthan Committee, expressed that the restoration would enable the community to perform their rituals at the site, the report stated.

The restoration effort has been supported by Shoaib Siddal, chairman of the One Man Commission of the Supreme Court, and Manzoor Masih, a member of the National Commission of Human Rights, who have played significant roles in the project.

Hindus form the largest minority community in Pakistan, with official estimates suggesting a population of 7.5 million. However, community leaders assert that the Hindu population exceeds 9 million. Most of Pakistan’s Hindu community resides in Sindh province, where they share cultural and linguistic ties with the local Muslim population.