In Pakistan's Sindh province, Hindu culture fights the odds

A family from Pakistani Hindu community visit at the Sadhu Bela temple, located in an island on the Indus River, in Sukkur, Pakistan, on October 26, 2022. (AP)
Short Url
Updated 07 November 2022
Follow

In Pakistan's Sindh province, Hindu culture fights the odds

  • Around 4 million Hindus live in Pakistan, or about 1.9% of the country’s population, and 1.4 million are in Sindh
  • There is no ban on Hindu worship in Pakistan, but Hindus say openly practicing the faith is not a matter of routine

SUKKUR: On the sandy banks of the Indus River, which flows top to toe through Pakistan and into its southern Sindh province, Hindus waited for brightly colored boats to ferry them to a peaceful island that has housed a temple for almost 200 years. 

Cheers rang out across the water as the marble and sandalwood Sadhu Bela temple complex heaved into view. “Long live Sadhu Bela!" the boat's passengers cried. 

The temple attracts tens of thousands of Hindus from within Muslim-majority Pakistan every year for festivals and rituals, including the recent celebrations of Diwali, an important Hindu holiday. 

The island was gifted to the Hindu community by wealthy Muslim landlords in Sindh two centuries ago. It would have been an unthinkable act in modern-day Pakistan, where Hindus are often marginalized, persecuted, and even killed. 

Around 4 million Hindus live in Pakistan, or about 1.9% of the country’s population, and 1.4 million are in Sindh. 




A man walks in a historical college named on Chella Singh and Sital Das, Hindu bankers who donated the bulk of funding for the construction of college, in Shikarpur, Pakistan, on October 26, 2022. (AP)

There is no ban on Hindu worship in Pakistan, but Hindus say openly practicing the faith is not a matter of routine. Decades of political hostility between majority-Hindu India and predominantly Muslim Pakistan present a challenge for the minority community, as many in Pakistan equate Hindus with India. The reverse exists in India where Muslims complain of discrimination. 

But the landscape of Pakistan, and Sindh in particular, retains their imprint. It has temples, although their numbers have plummeted. There are Hindu-run businesses as well as education and healthcare institutions, many established before the country was created in 1947. They are part of Pakistan's heritage, even as Hindus are forced into the shadows. 

As Sadhu Bela came alive with the delight of devotees exploring the courtyards and gardens, Dewan Chand Chawla, a local politician and general secretary of the Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee, spoke proudly of the temple's origins and features. The shrine, which celebrates its bicentennial in 2023, was built by craftsmen from the Indian city of Jodhpur and reflects the architectural style of the Taj Mahal. 

“A large part of the Hindu population migrated to India after Pakistan came into being, but those who stayed here are happy and prosperous,” Chawla said, keen to stress the harmonious relationship between the Muslim majority and Hindu minority. “I am thankful to the Muslim community of Pakistan, which fully supports us on all occasions. We follow the law and we are supported by the government.” 




A teenager from Pakistani Hindu community takes selfie with his phone while he with others visit at the Sadhu Bela temple, located in an island on the Indus River, in Sukkur, Pakistan, on October 26, 2022. (AP)

His assertion about a happy and prosperous Hindu community is not the majority view, however. Rights groups have long alleged that Pakistan is not doing enough to protect Hindus' freedom of religion and belief. They cite temple desecrations, attacks on businesses, homes, and individuals and the abduction, forced conversion, and forced marriage of young Hindu women. 

Chawla is not the only politician to emphasize an image of religious coexistence in Pakistan. “Most of the Hindu population of the country live in Sindh province satisfactorily, peacefully and without any fear or threat," said Waqar Mahdi, a senior advisor to Sindh’s chief minister. 

Mahdi said provincial officials have prioritized protecting the rights of minorities like Hindus and Christians. 

But Zahida Rehman Jatt, a University of Sindh lecturer in anthropology and social sciences, said there has been a surge in discrimination and marginalization of Hindus because of rising extremism and fundamentalism in the country. This intolerance risks undermining Pakistan's ties to its Hindu heritage, she said. 

“It’s sad because their (Hindus’) contribution is huge to Pakistan," she said. "Most Pakistanis are not aware of the importance of Hindu heritage or the contribution that Hindus — and Sikhs — made for the betterment of Pakistani society.” 

Some Hindu-founded institutions had their names changed after Pakistan was created, she said, citing Hyderabad’s Kundan Mal Girls’ School as an example. It was founded in 1914 by Hindu philanthropist Saith Kundan Mal, but is now known as Jamia Arabia Girls School. Such changes are one reason why Pakistanis don't know about the contribution of minority faiths, she said. 

Other institutions still bear the names of their Hindu benefactors, including a red brick college and two hospitals in the city Shikarpur, around 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Sukkur. 

On the first night of Diwali, one of the most important festivals in Hinduism, clay lamps subtly illuminated doorways and windowsills in Shikarpur. But there were no elaborate light displays or street festivities, and traditional Diwali firecracker fun took place away from the public gaze. 

The city of about 200,000 people has a rich Hindu history and traditions, now gradually fading. 

One of the keepers of that history can be found in a vast courtyard off a side road. On a recent day in late October, sweet shop owner Dewan Narain Das, 67, enjoyed the cool air. Vats of food bubbled away, children ran and played outdoors, and people gathered to exchange Diwali gifts and good wishes on the holy occasion. 

His family has owned a business in Shikarpur since the late 19th century. It started as a soft drink store and, after partition, became a sweet shop. It is famous in the city for falooda, an ice-cream-based dessert with noodles. Das is so well-known in the city that it is easy to find him just by asking for “Dewan Sahib, who owns the falooda shop.” 

“People who have lived here for a long time say that the taste they enjoyed 20 years ago is still there in our products,” said Das. 




A man buys sweet at a famous 67-year-old sweet shop run by a Hindu businessman, in Shikarpur, Pakistan, on October 26, 2022. (AP)

He said Shikarpur once had a sizable Hindu community and scores of temples, a number that has since dwindled. “Rich people used to organize picnics at the Indus River,” he said. “They used to live here, but their businesses spread to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mumbai.” 

Many Hindus left after partition, and their properties were taken over by a government trust. Today, Pakistan has a population of some 225 million people. 

Jatt, the scholar, said that the properties were allotted to refugees coming into newly created Pakistan from India. Most of the tenants paid minimal rent and were often unable to take care of the properties. “They (the residents) are very poor and these properties are grand, previously owned by wealthy Hindus," Jatt said. 

After partition, politicians trying to forge a Pakistani narrative emphasized the Muslim heritage, downplaying the contributions of other communities, Jatt said. 

“I don’t think we will see this kind of legacy or contribution again from Hindus, the opportunities are on the decline,” she said. "There may be individual cases of philanthropy, but the scale of building and philanthropy will decrease.” 


Met Office issues GLOF alert for northern Pakistan amid rising temperatures

Updated 7 sec ago
Follow

Met Office issues GLOF alert for northern Pakistan amid rising temperatures

  • Hot and humid weather prevailed over most parts of Pakistan in the last 24 hours
  • Monsoon rains and glacier melt caused deadly floods in 2022, affecting 33 million

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday issued an alert regarding possible Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in Pakistan’s northern areas, amid rising temperatures in the country.

Hot and humid weather prevailed over most parts of Pakistan and isolated falls of rain were recorded in Punjab, Azad Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh in the last 24 hours.

Nokkundi in Balochistan recorded the highest temperature on Friday 47°C, followed by 46°C in Bunji in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 45 in Dalbandin, Sibbi and Jacobabad, according to the PMD.

“Due to a significant rise in temperatures and upcoming system in northern Pakistan, the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) is very likely to increase in glaciated areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” it said.

“The persistent high temperatures may accelerate snow and glacier melt and subsequent weather events, potentially triggering GLOF and flash floods incidents, in vulnerable valleys and surrounding regions.”

The development comes as Pakistan braces for an extreme monsoon season that usually lasts till mid-September, with over 60 people killed in rains and floods in a little more than a week.

“All concerned are advised to remain alert and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation,” the PMD said in its alert.

Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is consistently ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change.

In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains and glacier melt caused catastrophic floods that affected 33 million people, killed more than 1,700 and caused over $30 billion in financial losses.


Death toll from Pakistan building collapse rises to 14

Updated 13 min 27 sec ago
Follow

Death toll from Pakistan building collapse rises to 14

  • Friday’s incident was the latest in a string of deadly building collapses in Karachi
  • It laid bare the issue of unsafe housing in Karachi, home to over 20 million people

KARACHI: The death toll from a five-storey building collapse in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi rose to 14 on Saturday, officials said, after rescuers pulled three more bodies from the rubble overnight.

The Fotan Mansion residential building, where several families were said to be living, crumbled shortly around 10am on Friday in the impoverished Lyari neighborhood of the city.

Rescue workers, along with residents of the area, continued their operation to find survivors and bodies through the night, once again laying bare the issue of unsafe housing in Karachi.

“So far, we have received 14 bodies at the medico-legal section, including those of 12- and 13-year-old children,” Dr. Summayia Syed, the Karachi police surgeon, told Arab News on Saturday morning.

Many of the occupants were members of the low-income Hindu minority community and residents estimated that around 40 people were inside when the building collapsed.

According to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), Fotan Mansion had been declared unsafe as far back as 2012.

“This building was declared dangerous by the SBCA in 2012 and had been served multiple notices over the years,” SBCA spokesperson Shakeel Dogar told Arab News. “Before the recent rains, public announcements were also made in the area, but unfortunately, no one was willing to vacate.”

Friday’s incident is the latest in a string of deadly building collapses in Karachi.

In February 2020, a five-storey building collapsed in Rizvia Society, killing at least 27 people. The following month, another residential structure came down in Gulbahar, claiming 16 lives. In June 2021, a three-storey building in Malir collapsed, killing four. And just last year, in August, a building collapse in Qur'angi led to at least three deaths.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said on Friday evening that rescue efforts remained their top priority, with accountability and investigation to follow.

“Once we’re done with the rescue aspect, we will focus on who was responsible for this negligence or omission,” he added.


Pakistan seeks Saudi investment in agri-infrastructure, eyes long-term food security

Updated 55 min ago
Follow

Pakistan seeks Saudi investment in agri-infrastructure, eyes long-term food security

  • Pakistan proposes joint work on desert agriculture, seed development and water efficiency
  • It highlights commitment to climate-adaptive agriculture amid environmental degradation

KARACHI: Pakistan on Friday urged Saudi Arabia to invest in agricultural research and storage infrastructure as part of a broader push for sustainable food security, according to an official statement.

The call was made during a meeting between Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki in Islamabad, following the launch ceremony of the third phase of the Saudi Food Security Support Project in Pakistan.

“Rana Tanveer Hussain shared Pakistan’s long-term vision for achieving sustainable food security through investment in agricultural research, innovation and modernized farming systems,” said the statement circulated after the meeting.

“The Minister proposed deeper collaboration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in key areas such as joint agricultural research, technological exchange and investment in food processing and storage infrastructure,” it added.

Hussain also highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to improving irrigation practices and promoting climate-adaptive agriculture to address the growing challenges posed by environmental degradation.

He invited Saudi investors to explore opportunities in agri-based projects, particularly in high-yield zones, and called for institutional cooperation between universities and research centers in both countries.

The minister also proposed joint work on desert agriculture, seed development and water efficiency, describing them as high-impact areas for regional collaboration.

Earlier, he distributed food baskets to families under the Saudi Food Security Support Project and interacted with recipients.

Now in its third phase, the Saudi-backed initiative is delivering essential food supplies to thousands of households across Pakistan, providing much-needed relief amid climate-related challenges.


Azerbaijan signs $2 billion investment agreements with Pakistan on sidelines of ECO summit

Updated 04 July 2025
Follow

Azerbaijan signs $2 billion investment agreements with Pakistan on sidelines of ECO summit

  • Development came after sustained engagement between Pakistani and Azerbaijani officials recently
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif also held separate meetings with the presidents of Turkiye, Iran and Uzbekistan

ISLAMABAD: Azerbaijan signed investment agreements worth $2 billion with Pakistan on Friday to boost economic cooperation, said an official statement released in Islamabad, in a major development during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the Central Asian state for the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit.

The two-day summit, hosted in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, focused on a sustainable and climate-resilient future for the region.

In his address, Sharif warned that climate change posed an existential threat to ECO member states, highlighting the impact of melting glaciers, floods, desertification and declining crop yields. He also emphasized more trade, tourism and regional integration to enhance economic prosperity.

“In the presence of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov signed agreements for $2 billion of investment in Pakistan’s economic sector from Azerbaijan,” the PM Office announced in a statement.

The agreements were signed following a bilateral meeting between Sharif and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, with officials hoping for a more detailed agreement during Aliyev’s upcoming visit to Pakistan.

“The agreement has elevated investment and trade relations between the two countries to a historic level and will serve as a guarantee for further strengthening their brotherly ties and commercial partnership,” the official Pakistani statement added.

It also described the development as a result of sustained engagement between Pakistani ministries and diplomats and their Azerbaijani counterparts over recent months.

SIDELINE DIPLOMACY

On the sidelines of the summit, Sharif held separate meetings with the presidents of Turkiye, Iran and Uzbekistan, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional cooperation, peace and connectivity.

In his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and vowed to accelerate progress in critical areas.

“The two leaders reiterated their resolve to bring about meaningful progress in relations... [emphasizing] the importance of deepening cooperation in trade, defense, energy, connectivity and investment,” said a separate handout by the PM Office.

To advance this agenda, both sides agreed to exchange high-level delegations to finalize understandings reached between the sides.

In another key engagement, the Pakistani prime minister met Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, with both sides reviewing the implementation of previous agreements to strengthen bilateral ties.

Sharif praised Iran’s leadership during the recent conflict with Israel and welcomed Tehran’s decision to agree to a ceasefire.

“The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the people and Government of Iran and Pakistan’s strong commitment to continue working closely with Iran for peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement said.

In his meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Sharif focused on regional integration, energy cooperation, and the Trans-Afghan Railway Project, which is seen as vital for unlocking trade corridors between Central and South Asia.

“The two leaders agreed on visits of their senior ministers to Tashkent and Islamabad to finalize necessary agreements,” the PMO said, adding that both sides viewed their cultural and historical ties as a strong foundation for broader collaboration.


Escaped lion attacks woman and children in Pakistan street

Updated 04 July 2025
Follow

Escaped lion attacks woman and children in Pakistan street

  • CCTV footage shows the lion jumping the barrier around its home and pursuing the family
  • It knocks the woman to the ground and claws the arms and faces of her two children

LAHORE: An escaped pet lion chased a woman and two children down a busy street in Pakistan’s Lahore, police said Friday, with dramatic footage showing the big cat leaping a wall before pouncing on them.

CCTV footage released by the police showed the lion jumping the barrier around its home and pursuing a woman carrying her shopping on Thursday night.

The lion jumped on her back, knocking her to the ground, the footage showed.

A police report quoted the father as saying the lion then turned to his five-year-old and seven-year-old children, and clawed their arms and faces.

All three were taken to hospital but were not in a critical condition.

The owners who ran out of the house were “amused to see their lion attack” the passersby, the father added in the report.

Police said Friday they had arrested three men.

“The suspects fled from the spot, taking the lion with them. They were arrested within 12 hours of the incident,” the office of the Deputy Inspector General Operations in Lahore told AFP.

The lion, an 11-month-old male, has been confiscated by police and sent to a wildlife park.

Officials at the facility said that the animal appears to be in good health.

Keeping exotic animals, especially big cats, as pets has long been seen as a sign of privilege and power in Punjab, the most populous province of the country.

In December 2024, an adult lion escaped from its enclosure in another neighborhood of Lahore, terrorizing residents before being shot dead by a security guard.

The incident prompted the provincial government to pass new laws regulating the sale, purchase, breeding and ownership of big cats.

The law now requires owners to obtain licenses for the animals which are barred from being kept in residential areas.

Breeders have to pay a hefty fee for registration, while farms have to be a minimum of 10 acres in size.