Community Life & Status

Pakistani Hindu women celebrate the Holi festival in Peshawar

According to a study, the majority of the scheduled caste Hindus (79%) in Pakistan have experienced discrimination. The discrimination is higher in Southern Punjab (86.5%) compared to the rest of the country. The study found that majority (91.5% ) of the respondents in Tharparkar, Umerkot, RahimyarKhan and Bahawalpur,  districts believed that political parties are not giving importance to them.

Pilgrims make their way to the top of Chandergup mud volcano in Hingol

In Balochistan province, Hindus are relatively more secure and face less religious persecution. The tribal chiefs in Balochistan, particularly the Jams of Lasbela and Bugti of Dera Bugti, consider non-Muslims like Hindus as members of their own extended family and allows religious freedom. They have never forced Hindus to convert. Also, in Balochistan Hindu places of worship are proportionate to their population. For example, between Uthal and Bela jurisdiction in Lasbela District, there are 18 temples for 5,000 Hindus living in the area, which is an indicator of religious freedom. However, in Khuzdar District and Kalat District, Hindus face discrimination.

peshawar hindus celebrating diwali

In Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hindus enjoy religious freedom and live peacefully alongside the Muslims. The city of Peshawar today is home to four Hindu tribes– the Balmiks, the Rajputs, the Heer Ratan Raths and the Bhai Joga Singh Gurdwara community. Since partition, the four tribes have lived in harmony with all religious communities including Muslims. However, there is the lack of upkeep of the dilapidated Hindu temples in the city. The local government always fails to assign caretakers and priests at temples. But in other parts of Kyber Pakhtunkhwa like Buner, Swat and Aurakzai Agencies, Hindu and Sikh families, have been targeted by Taliban for failing to pay Jizya (religious tax) and due to this more than 150 Sikhs and Hindu families in Pakistan’s have moved to Hasan Abdal and Rawalpindi in Punjab in 2009.

Hindu ladies performing their religious rituals

Hindu ladies performing their religious rituals

In central Punjab, Hindus are a small minority. After the partition, Hindus have been converting to Islam under pressure, particularly in Doda village near Sargodha. Due to the low population of Hindus in the Central Punjab, many of the Hindus have married Sikhs and vice versa. Intermarriages between the Hindus and Sikhs are very common there.

Entrance of Churrio Jabal Durga Mata Mandir

The Indus river is a holy river to many Hindus, and the Pakistani Govt. periodically allows small groups of Hindus from India to make pilgrimage and take part in festivities in Sindh & Punjab. Rich Pakistani Hindus go to India and release their loved ones’ remains into the Ganges. Those who cannot afford the trip go to Churrio Jabal Durga Mata mandir in Nagarparkar.