Pakistan's Minorities Citizens

[WinterFangs]

some pakistani Sikh youtubers I stumbled across recently.

https://youtube.com/c/MrLuckyvlogs

https://youtube.com/channel/UC7fXwg-qP8v-67jss5vXPjQ

do recommend giving them your support!

 

[Maula Jatt]

some pakistani Sikh youtubers I stumbled across recently.

https://youtube.com/c/MrLuckyvlogs

https://youtube.com/channel/UC7fXwg-qP8v-67jss5vXPjQ

do recommend giving them your support!

Also Hindu YouTuber although he attracts rabid hindutavas but still his content is good

 

[ghazi52]

.,.,
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to celebrate minorities’ festivals at the state level,
In a statement, Special Assistant for Minority Affairs Wazirzada said that the KP government has formulated a strategy to celebrate the festivals of minorities at the state-level.

In this regard, the KP’s endowment department has signed an agreement of Rs300 million with a private company. “Three festivals of the minority community in the province will be celebrated at the state level,” the special assistant added.

Wazirzada further said that the provincial government would also start exposure programmes for minority youth, while interfaith conferences will be held for religious harmony.

 

[ghazi52]

.,,.
Meet Mahipal, First ever pilot from Tharparkar and second one from the Hindu Community, who flew today to his hometown for first time.
Mr. Mahipal (who hails from Chhahro Tharparkar) was very excited to fly over the land wherefrom he dreamt to become pilot.
Best wishes for future Mahipal, Keep dreaming Pakistan!

 

[ghazi52]

,,,,,,,

In pictures: Christmas celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm across Pakistan​

Special services held in churches across the country and prayers offered for Pakistan's peace, progress and prosperity.

Dawn.com | APP
December 25, 2022

Christian communities across Pakistan, like other parts of the world, celebrated the grand festival of Christmas on Sunday with traditional zeal and enthusiasm.
The festival saw a variety of activities, including official gatherings, cake-cutting ceremonies and prayers at churches.

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Special cake-cutting ceremonies were held at various ministries and departments on Friday to share the happiness of the festival with Christian staff members and acknowledge their contributions.

Special services were held in churches across the country and prayers were offered for Pakistan’s peace, progress and prosperity as well as for the safety of all humanity from natural disasters and diseases.

Members of the Frontier Constabulary personnel stand guard during a Christmas prayer ceremony at the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the St John’s Cathedral Church in Peshawar on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the St John’s Cathedral Church in Peshawar on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Bishop Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters leads a Christmas Day service at the St John’s Cathedral in Peshawar on December 25, 2022. — Reuters

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the Christ Church in Rawalpindi on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the Christ Church in Rawalpindi on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the Christ Church in Rawalpindi on December 25, 2022. — AFP

A woman, along with others, attends a Christmas Day service at the St. John’s Cathedral in Peshawar, on December 25, 2022. — Reuters

People attend a Christmas Day service at the St. John’s Cathedral in Peshawar, on December 25, 2022. — Reuters

 

[ghazi52]

.,.

Three-day annual festival starts at Kalat's Kali Mandir​

The main purpose of the festival is to bind and unite the people with love and peace, says local Hindu leader

APP
January 24, 2023

Children gathered around the statue of a Hindu deity at the Kali Mata Mandir in Kalat, Balochistan.

---

KALAT: The three-day annual festival of the Hindu community at the Kali Mata Mandir, the historical temple of Hindus located in Kalat, began with traditional and religious fervor on Tuesday.

Hindu community from across the country reached Kalat in large numbers to participate in the annual festival.

The Hindu community also organized special prayers for the prosperity of the country.
Special food stalls have also been set up and free food is being distributed among the participants of the religious gathering.

Mana Mall, a local leader of the Hindu community, said that the main purpose of the festival was to bind and unite the people with love, peace, affection, and brotherhood.

Expressing his satisfaction over relations of Muslims with Hindus in Pakistan, he said that other countries of the world should learn lessons from Pakistan where there is no discrimination on the basis of religion and where minorities are enjoying all facilities as being availed by their Muslim brothers.

He further said that “Pakistan is our country and we have all kinds of religious freedom. We are very happy to participate in the annual historic festival."

Law enforcement agencies have made effective security arrangements at all entrance and exit points for the festival.

The second-largest Kali Mata statue in Asia is placed at the temple and because of that, the Hindu community from India also frequently visits the mandir in large numbers.

 

[ghazi52]

Religious textbooks to be published for students of minority groups​

SAFDAR RIZVI

For the first time in the country’s history, the National Curriculum Council (NCC) has allowed the publication of religious textbooks for students of seven minority religious groups enrolled in educational institutions supervised by the federal government.

The issuance of the no-objection certificates (NOCs) by the NCC will allow the National Book Foundation (NBF) to publish textbooks on Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Bahai, Zoroastrianism, Kalasha and Buddhism.

According to the seven different NOCs, students of the minority communities from grade one to three will be taught religious textbooks in schools in the federal capital or educational institu working under the ambit of federal government.

NCC chief Maryam Chaghatai told The Express Tribune that the decision is only applicable to the schools that are under the administrative control of the federal education ministry and added that education is a provincial subject under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

 

[ghazi52]

Islamabad ... ..

https://twitter.com/x/status/1668448812279676929

 

[ghazi52]

.,.,.,
*Mr Dev Aanand*
From Hindu community Of Pakistan Commissioned As Pilot Officer In The Pakistan Airforce.
He Passed Out Today at the prestigious PAF Academy, Asghar Khan, Risaplur.
Great ...

9:40 AM · Nov 22, 2023

 

[ghazi52]

555th Jayanti of Baba Guru Nanak: SBP to issue Rs55 commemorative coin​

Recorder Report
November 23, 2024

KARACHI: Following the directives of the federal government, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to issue Rs 55 Commemorative Coin on the 555th Jayanti of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

The coin is being issued through the exchange counters of all the field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation from November 22, 2024.

According to SBP on the auspicious occasion of 555th Jayanti of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, commemorative coin of Rs55 denomination with metal composition of Nickel-Brass, Cu 79 percent, Zn 20 percent & Ni one percent wit dimension of 30.0mm and 13.5 grams weight.

SBP is heir to diverse religious denominations; Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikh faith tradition, is one of the finest sons to blossom out of the land now constituting Pakistan. Sikh faith is a worldwide religion with millions of adherents; the holiest shrines are located in Pakistan.

OBVERSE: On the obverse side the waxing crescent moon and five-pointed star facing North-West in rising position, is in the centre. Along with periphery on the top of crescent star is inscribed in wording “ISLAMI JAMHURIA PAKISTAN” in Urdu Script. Below the crescent and on the top of two springs of wheat with arms curved upward, there is the year of issuance 2024. The face value of coin in numeral “55” in bold letters and RUPIA in Urdu script are written on the right and left sides of crescent star respectively.

REVERSE: On the reverse side of the coin, picture of monument of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is shown in the centre. The wording “555th Birthday Celebrations” is written on the top of the monument and “SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI” is written at the bottom of the monument whereas “1469-2024” is written along with the periphery at the bottom of the coin depicting the span of birthday celebrations.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

 

[ghazi52]

Holi 2025

 

[ghazi52]

​

The timeless treasures of Thar​

Often seen a just a place in need, the region’s true wealth lies in its culture, traditions and wisdom

Zain Haq
March 16, 2025


To a Karachiite, Tharparkar likely conjures images of suffering farmers or malnourished children. While these hardships are real and often underreported, in many ways, it is urban centres like Karachi that are impoverished – not in monetary wealth, but in culture, tradition and gratitude. Thar, in contrast, seems blessed with infinite riches.

Over the past decade, mainstream news has largely focused on the extreme drought that gripped Thar around 2014 and lasted nearly six years. Yet, beyond its struggles, there is much to learn from the region, its people, and their way of life in order to better what is truly at stake. Rather than being viewed solely as a charity case, Tharparkar deserves a central place in discussions on climate change and cultural preservation in the region.

A desert brimming with life

A desert region, locals term describe Thar as an ‘abad registan’ (inhabited desert) in Urdu, rather than a truly barren one. It is dotted with trees and bushes as far as the eye can see, and peacocks roaming in their natural habitat. Once a fertile land, it is believed that the now extinct Saraswati or Ghaggar-Hakra River flowed nearby.

A model of interfaith harmony

In Tharparkar, it feels a humble shepherd pays little mind to who the prime minister of Pakistan is. Here, politics and religion take a backseat to culture, which shapes public life. At its best, Thar and its people offer a model of interfaith harmony.

“There is no such thing as caste or creed here,” says Mukhi Lachmandas, a caretaker at the Sant Nenuram Ashram, home to the Shree Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Islamkot. He is seen chopping vegetables for a communal meal being prepared.

The temple feeds countless people everyday regardless of their religion and caste, using support it receives from the entire community. Its atmosphere is calm, with devotional music playing constantly in the background, punctuated by the occasional ringing of bells by devotees.

Bhagro Mal Nachez, a Hindu born in Tharparkar who has spent much of his life in Islamkot, is a frequent presence at the temple. Having come here to escape poverty, he now sings the verses of the giants of poetry in the Indian subcontinent’s Sufi tradition — the likes of Kabir, Bulleh Shah, Bhitai, Ustad Bukhari, and Bhagat Pallaj, to name a few. “They preach the message of humanism,” he says of these poets.

Hindu-Muslim Sufism was once the dominant spiritual tradition of the Indian subcontinent, but over time, it has faded into the margins. In places like Tharparkar, however, remnants of this past still endure. Could this decline, in part, have caused the rise in intolerance and, consequently, cultural erasure? It could be the other way around – cultural erasure leads to further intolerance, and more intolerance in turn accelerates cultural erasure, creating a vicious cycle.

Sounds and colours

Maryam Naz is a folk singer and dholak player from Thar. The bright colours of her ghagra-kanjra — the traditional attire of Thari women, influenced by Gujarati, Punjabi, and Sindhi styles — are a large part what makes Tharparkar colourful and lively.

Though she is one of many talented folk musicians in the region, she remains largely unrecognised outside of it, receiving little attention or support. With the right investment, Thari music could find a significant regional audience. Yet, like many artists here, Maryam’s voice remains unheard despite its beauty, and her art goes undervalued.

Lack of investment isn’t the only challenge Thar’s art and music face. “Our youth does not pay attention to continuing our culture,” laments Bhagro, his words indicate the fleeting sense of responsibility among younger generations when it comes to preserving heritage. “But still, our old culture persists.”

The Jain legacy of Thar

Tharparkar is home to many ancient Jain temples. One of the oldest known religions in the Indian subcontinent, it is now extinct in Pakistan, but continues to thrive in neighbouring India, particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

At the core of Jain philosophy is the principle of ‘ahimsa’ or non-violence, which serves as the moral foundation for devout followers of the faith. Strict Jains abstain from eating even certain vegetables like onions or garlic, which are harvested by uprooting the plant. Since they believe this act causes harm to living beings — something they strive to avoid at all costs — they deem such foods impermissible.

Some of this may sound extreme, but even so, how much harm, as opposed to the good, could such a belief possibly do? Could it be that extinguishing such beliefs in our society has contributed to the exploitative subjugation of nature?

Biodiversity at risk

Hinglaj Mata is believed to be a version of the goddess Sati. The name ‘Sati’ means truthful and etymologists traces the Urdu word for truth ‘sach’ back to the Sanskrit ‘sat’. Devotees of Sati revere her as the goddess of fertility and longevity. As it stands, both qualities are exactly what Tharparkar and Sindh need now more than ever.

Haji Muhammad Kumbher, a wildlife photographer and resident of Mithi, sees the climate crisis, cultural loss and wildlife decline as deeply interconnected. “In August, Thar is green,” he says – the season offers a glimpse into the region’s once fertile ancient past. “The bird that Shah Latif sang about, the Taro, is believed by locals to signal imminent rain with its chirp.”

Having spent years photographing Thar’s wildlife, Kumbher is acutely aware of species vanishing from the landscape. “Near Rann of Kutch, there are still many plants. Khipp (Leptadenia pyrotechnica) is one example — you won’t find it here anymore, but if you go towards the Rann of Kutch (at the border with Gujarat), you’ll still see it there.”

“The tractor doesn’t spare anything,” Haji Muhammad complains, referring to the disappearance of khipp. Once abundant in Thar, the plant is known among locals for its role in stabilising the soil. The herb is a natural carbon sequester as well.

“A person using a camel [for agriculture] is mindful of which plants should not be harmed,” he says. But the tractor, in its so-called efficiency, spares nothing — not even the herbs that have evolved as vital parts of the ecosystem. This raises a deeper question: how do we, as a society, define true efficiency?

“People used khipp a lot back when the when Sindhu composed the Vedas,” Haji Muhammad shares, delving into ancient history. Speaking of recent times, he adds, “The milk used to bathe idols during the Shiv Mela is sometimes infused with khipp.”

The Shiv Mela is an annual festival held in Mithi, drawing people from across the region, regardless of faith or creed.

Investing in resilience

Tharparkar can grow everything its people need to survive. The only challenge, as local food industry businessman Pyaro Shivani explains, is that the region can go years without rain.

“Food is mostly grown during the rainy season,” he tells us at his home in Mithi. The regional diet, he shares, revolves around locally grown mung daal, sesame, and bajra (pearl millet), along with honey and butter, among other staples. “We eat them from July to November, and after that, we preserve them and store them in our homes,” he says.

Pyaro emphasises that despite the recurring droughts in Tharparkar, investing in and promoting locally grown food could help mitigate the worst effects. “Agriculture in Tharparkar is largely organic. If efforts were made to develop it, it wouldn’t matter if it didn’t rain for 10 years,” he claims. According to him, the income generated from this commerce could sustain locals through prolonged droughts.

Standing at the crossroads

Thar is a place few from Karachi will ever visit. Yet, standing at a crossroads in time and space, it symbolises not just the gradual extinction of species, but also of culture and compels us to question the connection between ecological and cultural loss.

It is easy to overlook the most ordinary yet heartwarming aspect of local customs — the emphasis on hospitality. The welcoming nature of the residents serves as a reminder of the importance of gratitude.

Moreover, one gets the sense that those deeply connected to their history and traditions, whether through poetry and song or inherited wisdom, understand the importance of intergenerational knowledge in helping them endure through thick and thin.

In big cities like Karachi, one encounters countless people who have been given everything, yet often fall prey to greed and cynicism. In contrast, in places like Thar, where resources are scarce, people seem to possess an endless reserve of generosity, gratitude, and openness.

This shared cultural wealth belongs to all who live on these lands and beyond. For some, it lies buried deep, waiting to be unearthed; for others, it remains close to the surface. The only question is: are we curious enough to seek it?


Zain Haq is a freelance contributor