PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
MINORITIES AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
LIST OF STARRED ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR
TUESDAY, THE 9TH DECEMBER, 2025
1023 *Ms. FARAH SOHAIL:
Will the Minister for Minorities Affairsbe pleased to State:-
How does your department support interfaith harmony and religious tolerance in the province?
ANSWER
MR. SHAM SUNDAR, SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR MINORITIES AFFAIRS:-
Govt. of Sindh believes in respecting different religious beliefs and practices. A line of Government Departments involve recognizing the rights of individuals to hold and manifest their religious convictions without facing discrimination or persecution. Since the induction of subject matter interfaith harmony on part of the Department as provided under Rules of Business, this Department has taken several initiatives within its mandate as under :
(i) Formation of Interfaith Harmony Committee.
To promote peace and unity amongst people of all faith, Govt. of Sindh constituted Interfaith Harmony Committee at District level under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner concerned to address and resolve the issues of minorities.
(ii) Establishment of Facilitation Desks.
The facilitation desk has been established at Divisional level by this Department to resolve the issues and keep peace in consultation with district Administration / Law & Information Agencies.
(iii) Conducting Seminar(s) / Conference(s).
To promote Culture, gathering and to combat in tolerance amongst religious sects thorough interfaith dialogue, this Department conducts the Seminar(s) / Conference(s) at Provincial / Divisional level to provide a common roof / platform for all sects of religious in view to create love & affection and promote peace as well as to minimize the discrimination amongst religious sects.
(iv) Celebration of events.
To get people to realize common values of love, faith and kindness, this department celebrates events with all religious i.e.:
i. 11th day of August of every year of calendar month as “Minorities Day.
ii. Dewali Festival.
iii. Holi festival.
iv. Christmas Day.
v. Easter.
International Minorities Day on 18th of December of every year of calendar month.
1025 *Ms. FARAH SOHAIL:
Will the Minister for Minorities Affairs be pleased to State:-
How does the department resolve the needs and concerns of minorities communities in the province?
ANSWER
MR. SHAM SUNDAR, SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR MINORITIES AFFAIRS:-
Minorities Affairs Department is resolving the needs and concerns of minority communities in the province within the mandate as provided under the Sindh Government Rules of Business, 1986 with the following provisions.
(i) Financial Support :
Govt. of Sindh allocates funds “Grant-in-Aid” year to year to provide financial Assistance under Sindh Non-Muslims Welfare Committee.
Ø Financial Assistance for poor / needy people.
Ø Medical Assistance for poor patients.
Ø Marriage Assistance for poor / needy girls.
Ø Education Assistance (Scholarship) to deserving Minorities students on poverty-cum-merit basis.
Ø Effectees of Natural Calamity / fire incidents.
Ø Repair / Maintenance of religious places of minorities.
(ii) Legal Support :
Ø Enacted The Sindh Hindus Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2018 and thereafter Rules-2019 for registration of Marriages and to protect the rights of widow after divorce under the court of Law.
Ø Signed MoU with Legal Aid Society (LAS) and Pakistan Legal United Society (PLUS) to provide free Legal Assistance to minorities in Sindh.
Ø Enacted The Sindh Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal), 2019 for disposal of evacuee trust properties
Constituted The Sindh Evacuee Trust Property Board (SETPB).
(iii) Development Scheme :
Govt. of Sindh also allocates funds for Development Schemes for maintenance of religious places of minorities year to year.
(iv) Protection of religious places:
Ø Installed CCTV Cameras on 253 sensitive religious places of minorities to protect their religious places.
Ø Developing Police Task Force under Home Department, Govt. of Sindh.
(v) Constituted Interfaith Harmony Committee
Govt. of Sindh Constituted Interfaith Harmony Committee at District level under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner concerned to address and resolve the issues of minorities.
This Department conducts the Seminar / Conference at Provincial / Divisional level to provide a platform for all sects of religious in view to create love & affection and promote peace as well as to minimize the discrimination amongst all acts.
(vii) Facilitation Desks.
Established complaint cell / facilitation desks at divisional level to resolve the issues of minorities in consultancy with the Law & Information Agencies and NGOs at the spot.
1401 *MR. MAHESH KUMAR HASIJA:
Will the Minister for Minorities Affairs be pleased to State:-
What is the ministry’s plan to improve the living conditions of minority communities living in informal settlements?
ANSWER
MR. SHAM SUNDAR, SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR MINORITIES AFFAIRS:-
Ministry of Minorities Affairs Department is playing it role within the mandate provided under Sindh Government Rules of Business, 1986.
This Ministry has plan to facilitate the poor / needy (valuable people) and disable personalities by providing financial grant on account of Financial Assistance, Medical Assistance, Marriage Assistance, Education Assistance and Financial Assistance to effecters of Natural Calamity / fire incidents on identifying / recommendation of the members of the Sindh Non-Muslim Welfare Committee as well as upgrade religious places as per policy.
Besides, a line of Government Department is being play their roles to improve the living condition without any discrimination / segregation of religion and communities. This Department provide a platform to address and resolve the issues in consultation with Stakeholders Department.
1402 *MR. MAHESH KUMAR HASIJA:
Will the Minister for Minorities Affairs be pleased to State:-
How does the Ministry assess and respond to reports of discrimination in education or healthcare against minority groups?
ANSWER
MR. SHAM SUNDAR, SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR MINORITIES AFFAIRS:-
Ministry of Minorities Affairs Department plays a key role for the protection of Minorities against discrimination and constitutional rights within its mandate.
There is no any discrimination in education or healthcare against minority group. This Ministry also facilitates Financial Assistance for education (Scholarship) on poverty-cum-merit basis as well as support for Medical Treatment / Health Care as per policy.
1403 *MR. MAHESH KUMAR HASIJA:
Will the Minister for Minorities Affairs be pleased to State:-
Are there any dedicated social protection schemes or pensions for minority senior citizens?
ANSWER
MR. SHAM SUNDAR, SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR MINORITIES AFFAIRS:-
Ministry of Minorities Affairs Department is functioning within the mandate provided under the Sindh Government Rules of Business, 1986 and plays vital role for the protection of constitutional rights of Minorities through addressing their issues to stakeholder Departments.
There is no any scheme or pension for Minority Senior Citizens.
KARACHI: G.M UMAR FAROOQ
DATED, THE 8THDECEMBER, 2025 SECRETARY
PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
