Islamabad (News Desk) Despite constitutional guarantees and international commitments, the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan remain unfulfilled, according to speakers at a seminar held in Islamabad to commemorate National Minority Day. Organized by the Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR), the event presented preliminary findings from two parallel studies conducted under the EU-funded project Together for Tolerance: Strengthening Minority Rights and Inclusion, in collaboration with the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).
The research mapped the implementation of minority-specific policies and affirmative actions at the federal level and in Sindh and Punjab. The findings paint a grim picture of persistent systemic discrimination, rising forced conversions, token political representation, and exclusion from education, employment, and healthcare.
Speaking at the event, PCHR Chairman Riaz Fatyana and Executive Director Shafique Chaudhry stressed the urgency of translating constitutional commitments into practical, inclusive reforms. They highlighted alarming trends such as the increase in forced conversions of minor girls from Hindu and Christian communities, frequent attacks on places of worship, and widespread underrepresentation in public institutions.
Federal Secretary for Human Rights Abdul Khaliq Shaikh, while acknowledging the challenges, reiterated the government’s commitment to minority rights in line with Quaid-e-Azam’s vision and cited steps such as the proposed National Commission on the Rights of Religious Minorities.
European Union Acting Head of Delegation, Philipp Oliver Gross, emphasized that the protection of religious freedom is a core priority for the EU and tied it to Pakistan’s obligations under international treaties and the GSP+ trade scheme.
Key findings presented by PCHR experts Dr. Shafqat Munir and Dr. Sofia Anwar included:
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Over 70% of reserved public sector jobs for minorities remain unfilled
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44% of minority children in Sindh are out of school
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60% of minority students report discrimination in education
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1.9 million child labourers in Punjab, many from minority families
The studies also revealed how minorities are disproportionately confined to sanitation work, subjected to poor living conditions, and often face bureaucratic barriers in accessing reserved educational quotas and healthcare services. Hate content in curricula and lack of representation in textbooks further exacerbate exclusion.
Among the key recommendations were:
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Enacting comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and criminalizing forced conversions
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Establishing an independent national minority rights commission
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Allocating targeted budgets for minority welfare
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Reforming curricula to include minority histories and religions
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Ensuring accountability of law enforcement for inaction
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Promoting interfaith dialogue and protecting religious and cultural heritage
The seminar concluded with an open session featuring parliamentarians Nelson Azeem, Sanjay Parwani, Naveed Amir, Senator Danesh Kumar, and civil society voices such as Romana Bashir, Manzoor Masih (NCHR), Sadia Bukhari, and Advocate Basharat Masih. They called for both legal reforms and societal mindset shifts to ensure equality and dignity for all Pakistanis, regardless of faith.
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